Judy Dragseth remembers the day her mother was discharged from the hospital with a terminal diagnosis; she distinctly recalls her mother’s fear at the thought of having to return. Although Judy couldn’t give her mother the hope of a cure that day she was able to give her peace of mind in knowing she would be cared for in her own home. Judy and her sister fulfilled their promise to their mother and she died peacefully in her own home long before hospice care was available. So in 1980 when hospice care was just getting started in Judy’s hometown of Crookston, Minnesota she was the first one to raise her hand and offer support. Thirty years later Judy is still serving hospice patients and their families as a volunteer; "It was the one good thing that came out of my mother’s death."

Over the years, Judy has learned a lot about being a hospice volunteer from her patients. The lessons began on one of her first visits. The family had suggested she read to the patient. Judy fondly recalls how eager she was to help so as she put it, "I was really getting into it", when the patient gently stopped her and asked "Can we just be quiet for awhile?" Judy honored her request and took note. Lesson number one: "It’s okay to be quiet."

The next lesson was also a humbling one. The request came for a patient that needed assistance with light housekeeping. This request made Judy pause because she has very strong feelings about that particular chore. "I hate to clean." In the end she set her feelings aside and agreed to a weekly cleaning schedule. In doing so, Judy came to the conclusion that volunteering stretches a person to do things they may not otherwise do, wherein valuable lesson number two lie; "Volunteering is good for the soul."

During a recent visit with a patient, Judy rediscovered the most valuable lesson she has learned along the way. She had brought along a book to the visit because the patient’s illness had progressed to the point where he was sleeping most of the time. However, when Judy arrived the patient was alert and ready to talk. They shared stories about their mutual acquaintances and Judy brought him up to date about the happenings in their community. A little while into their conversation, she asked him if he needed to rest, he politely declined and asked if she would stay to continue their discussion. Four hours later Judy left knowing that she gave that dear gentleman a gift. Lesson number three: "The most important thing I can do is bring the outside in."

After all those years and patients served it would be fair to assume Judy may be ready to slow down. Although she has thought about cutting back, Judy has discovered that she looks forward to meeting the next patient so much she’s just not ready to slow down yet. So she’s off to meet her next patient and find out what other lessons she has to learn in her journey as a hospice volunteer.