René Damgaard, a 67-year-old patient, struggles with the burdens caused by his advanced cancer in the palliative care unit at Hvidovre Hospital. He meets the sobering truth of his circumstances with strength and bravery. René was accepted on Monday morning. The toll on him—having suffered the worst of pain for more than a month as the cancer rapidly advances all over his body—is evident. His recent diagnosis has resulted in a scary accumulation of fluid in his tummy that’s making his pain worse.
René’s health continues to deteriorate. They can, and should, prepare him for the awful reality that he’ll be released on Monday to die at home. His niece has taken all care leave available under the new Paid Leave Act to help him manage this difficult transition. This reality is compounded by additional heartbreak. René’s wife had just died in the same unit a month before.
From the very beginning René put on amazing stubbornness on his trip. He has been sober since 1996 and has courageously endured nearly 30 doses of chemotherapy. He still doesn’t want to take medicine, especially not chemo, which he really hates. The advancement of his illness has introduced severe pain, with his stomach distending from the buildup of fluid. Nighttime brings even more restlessness, as he spends his nights pacing the hallways looking for some remedial comfort, relief, or ease.
Dr. Niels Abrahamsen, a general practitioner with over a decade of experience in palliative care, emphasizes the importance of addressing both physical and emotional pain. He reflects on the delicate balance within palliative care:
“You can run all kinds of blood tests and scans, but if you don’t talk to the patients about what they want, it’s pointless. You must talk to them. And touch them.” – Randén
This philosophy rings true across the unit, where staff focus on fostering humane relationships through their words, equally as important as their medical interventions. The team knows they can’t change a patient’s life situation, but they can reassure, uplift, and instill hope. Dr. Abrahamsen notes the significance of making patients feel safe:
“I’ve told him: ‘You need to stay here until you feel safe.’” – Nielsen
In short, as René continues to feel his way through this difficult period, his healthcare team is committed to providing him with comfort and empathy. The emotional bereavement and challenges of death and dying are not foreign to them. Dr. Abrahamsen shares insights from his experiences:
“Many doctors shy away from talking about death. They keep treating the patients until the very last moment before they finally say: ‘Now there is nothing more we can do.’ But then there is no time left for the patient to prepare themselves for death.” – Randén
For René, the fear of death is the worst. That grief is compounded for Boone by vivid memories of his late wife’s last days. Dr. Nielsen recalls those moments with empathy:
“It was very scary. She saw shadows that wanted to take her. They surrounded her in the room.” – Nielsen
This traumatic reminder sits bitterly on René’s conscience as he anticipates his move from hospital to home. Historically, the staff know the profound psychological weight their patients carry. They lead the charge to alleviate such concerns, first and foremost by encouraging open dialogue on death and dying.