Spring 2013 - University Honors College - University at Buffalo

stories, stories of persecution and of courage inthe face of defeat are prevalent in everyday people.What my patients don’t know, however, is that Iconsider the stories that they share with me on adaily basis to be gifts; lessons learned, relationshipscherished, and history lived.When I think of how I came to Hospice, I believethat my story, both personally and professionally,began as the daughter of a volunteer firefighter.He would often take me to his first aid classes,mostly because there was no babysitter. I tookmy Barbie dolls and played quietly on the floorin the back of the room. Some of my dad’sfavorite stories are of when, at seven years old,my head would pop up in the backof the room to answerquestions for theinstructor that no oneelse could (“The ABCsare Airway, Breathing,and Circulation”). Ialso joined him onhis first aid calls,where I would watchthe patient loadedinto the ambulanceand try to guessthe affliction. Ruleswere, though, that Iwasn’t allowed out ofthe car (that rule wasoften broken as veteranfirefighters allowed meout and to the sidewalkto monitor the goings-on).On one infamous camping tripwith my father, lunch was cut short tofollow a fire truck to its final destination. Clearly,medicine was right for me.Fast forward to my last year of high school, when Iapplied for and was accepted into a new programthat allowed fifteen seniors into a hospital toobserve all areas of medicine. By seventeen yearsold, I was watching hysterectomies and roundingwith attendings. This experience paved the wayfor admission to the University at Buffalo, where Iwas invited to join the Advanced Honors Programafter my second year. Here, I was encouragedto create my own degree in the Anatomical andPathological Sciences (following detours throughthe schools of nursing and medical technology).Independent study time allowed me to develop myskills in the anatomy lab and taught me to workhard to reach my goals.I can see now that there was more than onelaunching pad to hospice and palliative medicineduring college. Not only did the Advanced HonorsProgram give me the outlet I needed to customizemy university experience, but simultaneously, mygrandfather was admitted to Hospice Buffalo withlung cancer. Facing the loss of my first ever familymember, I spent afternoons and evenings with mygrandfather in whichever setting he happened to beresiding at the time. We talked about our family’spast and future; we laughed with each other, andmost importantly, made time for eachother. My grandfather gave medating advice, and made sureNow, more thanten years later,I am Hospice.I join with families in this verydifficult time in their liveswhen it may seem that othersare turning awayfrom them.I worked hard in school.Hospice gave us the timeto share these momentsand the permissionto take the time tolove each other. Thiswas a defining timein my life. WithHospice’s help, Iwas able to say allthat I wanted to sayto my grandfatherbefore he died, andhe was able to do thesame.Now, more than tenyears later, I am Hospice.I join with families inthis very difficult time intheir lives when it may seem that othersare turning away from them. The field of hospiceand palliative medicine is relatively new, andwith the advent of health care reform, is growingexponentially. With so few board certified hospiceand palliative medicine practitioners out there,nearly each role is a leadership role. Not only amI Hospice, but I’m to be a leader in my field, andthe Advanced Honors Program, my family, and myeducation have readied me to work hard, and at thesame time, never work a day in my life.More information about Hospice Buffalo, itsmission, and the services it provides, please visithospicebuffalo.com.N U M B E R X X X V I | S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 7