A Portal to Profound

A Portal to Profound

by | Nov 29, 2024 | Caregiving, Volunteering

By Ellen Buckmaster, Hospice Austin Volunteer When I tell people I’m a hospice volunteer, I almost always get something like, “Oh good for you. I could never do that,” as if my efforts are heroic or out of the ordinary. It’s an interesting and perhaps telling...
The Depths of Eternity

The Depths of Eternity

by | Apr 8, 2019 | Volunteering

One of my most memorable experiences was when I provided 11th-hour relief for a young man in his 20’s with brain cancer. Each time he would cough, his head would become very red in color and he would be in obvious distress. I used a craniosacral therapy technique at...
The Other Side of the Door

The Other Side of the Door

by | Apr 8, 2019 | Uncategorized

Each time  I knock on a patient’s door at Hospice Austin’s Christopher House, I wonder what is happening on the other side. I never know quite what to expect. I take a deep breath, walk in, and ask if they – the family, the patient – need anything. Sometimes it’s...
A Lasting Bond

A Lasting Bond

by | Mar 15, 2019 | Uncategorized

I started working with a 72-year-old gentleman last September – we formed an amazing bond. I was privileged to play an important role in his life. He was on his own, no family, very lonely but also a very vibrant, funny, and delightful individual. He told me (and...