Hospice, to certain people, is a word strictly taboo
They viewed it absolutely as a death house where the dying are confined to.
When my illness deteriorated, I wanted to know what hospice is all about;
Could someone please enlighten me, I pleaded aloud.
I could, with my nurses and social workers from ASSISI Hospice, said Dr Hosen;
We are here to make life happy and comfortable for all our patients.
At the hospice, dedicated staff work round the clock, providing care and support;
So that patients can pass their days in pleasing comfort.
Here, professionalism, compassion and humanity is profoundly visible;
When you see hospice staff attending to the feeble and the disabled.
Home patients receive visits by doctors, nurses and social counselors, who provide them with palliative care;
Just to make sure no one is left out in despair.
Sadly, hospice patients will pass away eventually;
Humanely, everything possible will be done so that no one dies in agony.
Now I know why hospice is less repulsive and more endearing;
Because patients here can live peacefully with minimal suffering.
So, death house or heavenly shelter?
Let the facts be the decider.
Thank you Dr Hosen and your dedicated crew;
Without you all, today, I probably, might not be that cool.
Contributed by Bernard Ng / NPC survivor
Dated 23 July 2010
Survivor since 2003
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