Published on: August 30, 2016

“During my morning rounds as I enquired about his pain, his eyes welled up with tears. As I asked gently, “Would you like to talk?” he started to cry, great heaving sobs filled with pent-up suffering.”

Dr Seema Rao, consulting psychiatrist from Mumbai, narrates this account of Sunder, a 38-year old driver who came to her hospice. He was suffering from penile cancer that had metastasized to the lymph nodes, lungs, and liver. “I don’t think you can do much for me. I have seen so many doctors, taken so many medicines, nothing helps. I want to die,” he said, his voice resonating with despair.

The narrative titled “Finding Peace Beyond the Pain” describes the journey of Sunder in the hospice. A caring husband and a doting father, he came to the hospice by force, in immense pain and suffering. He stayed on by choice and found the peace he was looking for, ably supported by the dedicated hospice team. He was able to live the last few months of his life as comfortably as was possible, and left this world in peace, with dignity. The narrative reiterates the belief that hospice, with its philosophy of active “total care” is an ideal place for addressing the concept of “total pain.”

Read the complete narrative published in the Journal of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy.

The Journal of Pain and Palliative care Pharmacotherapy is an indexed journal that has made the narratives free access. The journal welcomes your Narratives on Pain, Suffering and Relief. Tell your story to the world and help improve palliative care awareness. If you have a story to narrate, share it with us. Write to info@palliumindia.live-website.com