A Glimpse Behind The Curtain Essay

Towards the end of my life, I have had a considerable amount of time to think, and most often, my mind wanders back to the past: my past. Sometimes, I remember the broken woman who watched her screaming child be wrenched from her arms to live with a stranger she had stolen a lifetime from. Other times, I can recall being the loving mother and wife, whose whole entire world consisted of Lucy, Tom, and their secluded island. But if I try hard enough, I can imagine the sweet, naïve teenage girl who frolicked among seagulls; the girl who had the courage to ask a man whom she barely knew to kiss her. Now, as the cancer consumes whatever is left of me, little by little, I wonder what became of that innocent girl, who had lost her beloved brothers

It was near the end of winter 2005, when my grand-aunt suddenly fell ill. In a short period of time her illness worsened and the doctors informed my family, my grand-aunt only had a couple of months to live. The news was devastating to my family as we watched a vivacious, independent, and outspoken woman, who enjoyed shopping, reading mystery novels and spending time with family become very weak and confined to her bed. Instead of placing my grand-aunt in a hospice facility, my family and I, with the assistance of a hospice nurse cared for my grand-aunt in her home until her passing.

When my mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness, we used the service a hospice team. The team was considered in all aspects due to my mother’s physical and mental needs. They were always sensitive and caring to not only my mom’s needs but my family’s needs.

Death is inevitable. It is one of the only certainties in life. Regardless, people are often uncomfortable discussing death. Nyatanga (2016) posits that the idea of no longer existing increases anxiety and emotional distress in relation to one’s mortality. Because of the difficulty in level of care for end-of-life patients, the patient and the family often need professional assistance for physical and emotional care. Many family caregivers are not professionally trained in medicine, and this is where hospice comes into play. Hospice aims to meet the holistic needs of both the patient and the patient’s family through treatment plans, education, and advocacy. There is a duality of care to the treatment provided by hospice staff in that they do not attempt to separate the patient’s care from the family’s care. Leming and Dickinson (2011) support that hospice, unlike other clinical fields, focuses on the patient and the family together instead of seeing the patient independent of the family. Many times in hospitals, the medical team focuses solely on the goal of returning the patient back to health in order for them to return to their normal lives. They do not take into account the psychological and spiritual components of the patient’s journey and the journey that the family must take as well. For treatment of the patient, Leming and Dickinson agree that hospice does not attempt to cure patients, and instead concentrates solely

With my older sisters away at college, the responsibility of caring for my ailing mother, suddenly fell to me, and my once picturesque childhood was at an end. I spent the early part of my adolescence learning how to run a household and play nurse to my mother. In addition to school and keeping the house in order, I administered her medications, gave injections, learned to catheterize her, helped her bath and use the restroom, and did all of the physician prescribed exercises to help with her leg cramps and numbness. When I had time I studied her disease, determined to find anything that might help alleviate her symptoms and bring the mom I remembered and craved back to me. And though she was often too far gone within her own mind to realize what was going on around her, when she was fully lucid she would smile softly and tell me what a wonderful nurse I would be when I grew up, just like she had been before the disease struck her. Looking back, I wish I could say that I preformed my duties with a smile on my face, but unfortunately that’s simply not

On May 11th 2013, my grandma passed away due to pancreatic cancer. A little later that year on September 25th, my mom received a call from my aunt in Guam that my dad had passed away in his sleep. Then on May 14th 2014, my grandpa passed from complications of an allergic reaction to a medication. So within a year, I was left to deal with three immediate family deaths, one right after another. Losing such important figures in one’s life could leave someone depressed and unmotivated to move on with their own life and to rise above those challenges is difficult, yet possible. During this time of hardship, I grew discouraged and saddened, but over time I became motivated to set aside these struggles and make a change.

In the short story, Behind the Blue Curtain by Steven Millhauser, the protagonist is a young boy whose journey begins w In the short story, Behind the Blue Curtain by Steven Millhauser, the protagonist is a young boy whose journey begins with a trip to the movie theater one Saturday afternoon. Although the child attends a feature film each weekend this Saturday is a bit different; this weekend he must go alone, rather than with his father as per usual. Instead of a material treasure, the young boy seeks the treasure of a greater knowledge, enlightenment. The reader is informed of this through a first person point of view; the boy’s, “My father was never wrong, but I felt he was trying to shield me from darker knowledge.

Before beginning, I would like to preface my remarks with one disclaimer. I am currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine, on the faculty at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Additionally, I serve as Medical Director of our in-patient hospice and palliative care unit. Moreover, I serve on the board of our local hospice organization, Hospice of the Piedmont, where I also serve as Associate Medical Director. Though my work with these organizations has greatly enhanced nd deepened my commitment to the care of the terminally ill, I in no way claim to speak for or on behalf of any of the institutions for which I serve. The opinions expressed below and in my written testimony are entirely my own.

Gilda also witnessed her mother struggle with cancer, and watched the Hospice nurses and staff provide care and support to Gilda’s mother and family, and ultimately decided that she too wanted to assist people cope with grief and loss and the end of process. On the other hand, both Michele and Pamela started their careers in the medical field outside of Hospice and found their way to the Hospice program with time and experience. Pamela believed that there was a need for LPN is within the Hospice agency, and started her work as an LPN working with Hospice patients in their homes. Michele started as a nurse when she started working for Hospice and after a few years, she was promoted to a care provider liaison, working with and advocating on behalf of Hospice patients who reside in assisted living facilities.

It is safe to assume that the author is no stranger to death. He has seen many people close to him grieve. He has noticed that everyone grieves differently. He understands the need for God’s grace in the midst of grief to get one through the stages of grief.

Hospice of the North Coast’s mission is “To provide compassionate, personalized care to patients and families during the end-of-life transition.”

Finally, as he abruptly snapped out of his daze, he gazing at me with his deep brown eyes and sighed, "The doctors admitted my dad to Hospice today." Once those disheartening words left his mouth, his face became distraught, his eyes turned dark and droopy, his nose became stuffy, and his lips tensed tightly. Hunching over his long legs, tears began pouring out of his saddened eyes onto his freshly-ironed clothes. My heart crumbled as Grant Oubre, my consoler and companion, was crying beside me. I did not know how to comfort him much less myself; I was in complete and utter shock. As he pulled himself together, he glanced at me once again with his sagging eyes and melancholic expression as he said, "Hospice is where they make you comfortable

Charlotte’s health was rapidly declining. Mitchell wrote, “The nurses and doctors thought she should be allowed to die peacefully” (480). They recommended that a do not resuscitate order be put in Charlotte’s chart. The new parents did not agree. They believed righteously that the treatment in the United States would protect her and she would live. Charlotte’s parents were naïve and made Charlotte suffer with agonizing pain because of their decision. The doctors and nurses were right to want to insert a do not resuscitate order in Charlotte’s chart. In contrast, Charlotte bounced between the hospital, home, the ER and pediatric nursing

When Susan was first diagnosed with lung cancer no one understood why. She wasn’t a smoker or user of tobacco. The only connection to lung cancer was her family’s history. Susan’s father died of lung cancer at 55 years old. Susan was seven years old when she lost her father. She couldn’t imagine putting Jessica in the same position she was in as a little girl. Up until her own diagnosis, Susan felt losing a parent was the most traumatic event to happened in her life.

When I was born, I saw many things: my parents, my family, doctors, and the hospital room I was in. I certainly don’t recall seeing any of these things, but I am sure I did. My parents told me I never cried when I was born, which alarmed the doctors, but I like to think it’s because I’m tough. I imagine myself brand new in the world, but not scared because it all looked so nice. I could smell bleach and soap and hear the soft voices of people who already unconditionally loved me. I was unaware of what any of this stuff was, but was aware something big and important just happened. I was aware that my existence was in that space, with those people, at that time; with those hospital curtains in front of the door, that were shadowing me from the rest of the world.