Elizabeth Corbin
Biology Major
The past seven weeks have afforded me the opportunity to serve and volunteer under Community Hospice in Mount Vernon. Typically, I donate twelve hours weekly and spend those hours going on home visits and visiting nursing/assisted living homes in Glenwood, Vidalia, and Lyons. Visiting with such patients has allowed me to learn about illnesses people are faced with towards the end of their lives. I have been able to have many endearing conversations with patients and even build relationships with such priceless individuals. I have not volunteered for long, but I have already been faced with the deaths of several patients. This is simply something you have to endure when working with hospice, but it never gets easier. It is even more difficult if you have built a relationship or made a connection with a specific patient. Not only have I built relationships with these wonderful people, I have also been able to show love to them and help them feel valued. I do not feel it was ever intended for humans to live our lives alone. Being with my patients has given me a chance to show love on these people and shed even the slightest bit of light in their lives. Among my many patients, two have stuck with me more so than the others. There is one sweet elderly lady who is very witty. She has a zest for life and a joy that is contagious. I also serve a twenty-five year old female who was born with HIV. She has since developed Aids and is slowly dying a horrific death. Knowing this beautiful lady is only a few years older than me is very difficult. She seems to be very lonely. I can only hope that she enjoys my company as much as I enjoy hers. Volunteering for Community Hospice is helping me to deal with death and also teaching me to communicate with patients and their loves ones. In the future, I plan on going in the field of nursing. This experience is definitely broadening my perception of sick individuals who are approaching death. I am very grateful for this opportunity.