Lost and changes

Last week was my palliative care posting, it was not as depressing as I thought. In fact, I think it is more happening than other wards or department. The quality of life is the keyword to this block. Palliative care is not to prolong life but to make the life which remain as comfortable and as meaningful as possible.

What do you mean by a good quality of life? You will have a better quality of life when the gap between your life expectation and reality is small. So one of the aims of the palliative care medical team is either try to bring down the patient’s expectation or try to achieve the reality. For example, one of the patients wish to attend her grandson’s convocation but she was to ill to move around. Instead of bringing her to the convocation, the medical team arranges a photo shooting session in the hospital where they call all the family members and her grandson with robe gather around to take a photo. I personally think that this is very warm and sweet. They will try their very best to fulfill all the patients wishes.

In one of the tutorial, we talked about lost and changes. We have an activity to let us experience lost and changes. So if you interested, you can try it yourself. First prepare 12 pieces of paper ( about 4cm x 4cm is big enough) and pen.

Then, answer the first question. 4 words that can be use to describe yourself? You need to write each answer on each separate paper. For example cheerful, talkative, kind etc. so now you write another 4 things or people that are very important in your life for example family, friends, dog, money, status, achievement or whatever on another 4 separate paper. And final question, 4 events or activity that you usually do like sleeping, sports, shopping, eating, talking with friends or cooking.

Now you have 12 answers on 12 pieces of paper. Look through all the answers and choose 2 out of the 12 which you think you can give up easily. How do you feel when you lost these 2 things in your life? Then you have to choose another 2 and imagine how you feel, then another 2 until you have nothing. Imagine how you will feel when you lose this entire thing 2 by 2.

From this activity you will know what is really important for you in your life and you know how you will feel when you lose it. So, now is time for you appreciate them while you still have them. At the same time I think you also have to prepare yourself for losing it one day.

p/s another thing I like about this block is they provide us coffee and biscuits everyday during our break haha. They also provide us lunch so that we have more time to talk to the patients. Is not the normal lunch you know, they have starter, main course and dessert. They are nurses to serve you as well hahaha. You just need to eat and talk to the patient.