In support of Palliative Care

Lisa Bolen

Dear Editor,
My name is Lisa Bolen and I am both a former resident of the area and a fourth year nursing student at the University of Manitoba. I am writing in response to the article “Palliative care volunteers sought” by Wilma Sletmoen in the February 8 edition. This article sparked my attention in many ways but mostly because I never realized that our area has had this program for seven years, and that it has since grown to twenty-five volunteers.
I think that it is phenomenal what the organizers do and I would really like to urge people to volunteer. Even for those people who are unsure, perhaps this is for you and you just do not know it yet.
I myself completed a palliative clinical rotation last term. Initially I had a very high level of anxiety, but I ended up finding the experience to be emotionally uplifting, rewarding and a real honour to be a part of an individuals life in such a time.
With all of the cancer in the world these days and the aging baby boomers, I am sure that this program could never have too many volunteers and I would like to thank all of the people who are already a part.
–Lisa Bolen
Winnipeg, MB