The holistic approach of the Palliative Unit is quite fascinating; there are a variety of medical professionals – psychologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, music therapists, etc. – whose main aim is to make the patient’s life as comfortable and painless as possible. But then it hits you. Many of these individuals are in the last stage of their lives, and in a matter of a few months, weeks, or days, all you may be left with is remnants of their presence – mere memories.
On my first homecare visit, I had the opportunity to visit the houses of three patients. The first patient that we visited stuck with me the most. He was a small, old man with prostate cancer. His wife and deaf son were incredibly warm and welcoming. I could see the appreciation in their eyes as the doctors and nurses tended to their loved one. They treated us like family, serving us café and wafers, a common afternoon snack. Dr. Paula, a resident in the Palliative Unit, stated that he was slowly trending upward. I could see their faces light up as Dr. Paula gave them the good news.
Upon hearing this, it seemed as if the old man had suddenly gained a spring in his step. He told us he wanted to show us something, and took us into a cozy cabin by the side of his house. The walls of the cabin were lined entirely with boxes filled with various sized screws, nuts, and bolts. His wife told us he had a knack for building things, so he had taken the extra time he had to put together this room. The room, the look on his face, his family – it was mesmerizing to see all of this.
Yet, less than a week later, I run into his son at the Palliative Unit. A kiss on the cheek and a hug, followed by, “Tudo bom? Meu pai está aqui. Você quer vê ele?” (Are you doing well? My father is here. Do you want to see him?). I quickly followed him into his father’s room. There the old man sat on the edge of the bed – a man that was progressively showing improvement, but had suddenly experienced severe pain. Seeing this sudden change in his health, I was heartbroken.
Sometimes what you have planned for yourself is not what life has planned for you. There is only so much you and the medical professionals have control over. You learn to slowly accept this fact as you work at a hospital – at least not until a cure for terminal illnesses, like cancer, is found.