I've written about Donna and how when her third treatment for cancer was not effective we began to accept the reality after 3+ years of survival. Her plural cavity was filling with fluid that needed to be drained. She entered the hospital for treatment. The staff was unable to drain the plural cavity, it kept returning. A meeting with the palliative care team and her oncologist was scheduled. The room was filled with many team members. Donna's brilliant and compassionate oncologist began discussing palliative care. I saw her reaction in that moment and weight of the past 3 years, she surrendered. For in her mind palliative care was equal to death. A few days later she was moved to in patient hospice and died 21 days later. My experience for those 21 days with the palliative care team was meaningful. They were there for Donna and me. They supported us when we felt all was lost. They saved my life. I was able to move from caregiver to loved one. We were a couple again without the bindings of being the docent for her death.
I’m a psychology graduate student going on internship and interested in palliative care. This was great to listen to, thank you!
I've written about Donna and how when her third treatment for cancer was not effective we began to accept the reality after 3+ years of survival. Her plural cavity was filling with fluid that needed to be drained. She entered the hospital for treatment.
The staff was unable to drain the plural cavity, it kept returning. A meeting with the palliative care team and her oncologist was scheduled. The room was filled with many team members. Donna's brilliant and compassionate oncologist began discussing palliative care. I saw her reaction in that moment and weight of the past 3 years, she surrendered. For in her mind palliative care was equal to death. A few days later she was moved to in patient hospice and died 21 days later.
My experience for those 21 days with the palliative care team was meaningful. They were there for Donna and me. They supported us when we felt all was lost. They saved my life. I was able to move from caregiver to loved one. We were a couple again without the bindings of being the docent for her death.