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Show 44 Hilltop Times March 25, 1988 0?DuQDDD(IlDD7 800 GqddOl? all Staff sergeant serves the dying through Hospice by Ernie tant," she said. "You just don't knock on people's doors and go in and talk J. Shannon Ogden ALC Public Affairs Office that's needed. "Training is impor- . SSgt. Pam Travis is fond of saying of her volunteer work with Hospice of Northern Utah, "If I have the courage to do it, anyone could do it." However, the events of the past year don't support her; she may, in fact, have uncommon courage. Hospice provides support and companionship for the terminally ill elderly.. Their support consists of a small army of volunteers especially trained, but not especially endowed except with a desire to serve. "After a very intense training program at Hill to become an air traffic control operator," said Sergeant Tra--. vis, "I had a lot of time on my hands and I wanted to give something back to a community I enjoy." The sergeant heard of volunteer opportunities at several institutions including the Humane Society, "but I didn't think I could stand to see cruelty to animals so that was out. Then I saw an ad for people to work with Hospice and terminally ill patients and I though that would be pretty interesting." Interesting is hardly the word for a situation in which people's lives are coming to a slow and often painful end, but the Houston, Texas, native proved able to meet the challenge. "Most of our patients are cancer patients who have less than six months to live," she said. "At the point where they have six months, the patient is assigned to Hospice and one of our two nurses visits the person to determine their needs and then assigns one of the volunteers. "We then visit them two days a week for the duration of their life which is only a matter of months. "Not all of our patients are afflicted with cancer though," the sergeant said. "We had one man who had a malfunction of the heart and he died of a heart attack." However, an attitude of caring isn't to them about death." The sergeant said each volunteer training goes through a several-mont- h other where, things, among program communication is taught. "We learn how to help people deal with death and we learn to recognize the signs of approaching death." ' - - ' - ' ' - s - - - - j--i- - i Learning te recognize approaching death and dealing with the emo- tional trauma served Sergeant Travis in unexpected ways last year. In the space of a year, the Texan was divorced from her husband and lost a brother to a brain hemorrhage. asked me how I could put "People a terminally ill situation into myself with Hospice and them face the divorce and death in my own family, but it only strengthened me to deal with those things," she said. The challenge in dealing with death, according to Sergeant Travis, is knowing what the patient wants to talk about. "Just because we're there to comfort a person facing death, we don't necessarity talk about death," she said. "They might want to talk about the Super Bowl, sports, the weather or anything. They might not want to talk about death. "A lot of themjust want a friend. The first lady I visited with never did cope with her death. There was a lot of pain and a lot of unhappiness even though she had her family around to help her," said the sergeant. On the Other hand, according to Sergeant Travis, some people handle their death very well. She said one lady talked of meeting Jesus and being in heaven, others talk of meeting deceased family members. "Another thing we do is give the family a break from a terminally ill patient," she said. "For instance, one family wanted to go out for an afternoon so I stayed with the sick person. "We also work with families. Some, just like the patient, are prepared for death and understand it. Others, however, ignore what's happening. Some people will distance themselves from the terminally ill patient, because they just don't know how. to -- ijEr- - ' :y U.S. Air Force Photo SSgt. Pamela J. Travis Sergeant Travis regards the flightline from the control tower. talk to them about death," she said. "Many times we act as the n. When a family needs to know something about the approaching death such as funeral arrangements, but is afraid to talk about it with the patient, we work with the two sides." Sergeant Travis tells of another lady who didn't have a family and asked the volunteer to arrange the funeral service. The volunteer did, and it took a lot of worry from the lady. The wonder of such an experience is that the expectant depression from working with a dying person gives way to a very satisfying endeavor. "The first time I visited a sick person I thought, 'Oh no, I've never been around a terminally ill patient before, it's going to be depressing.' In fact, the patient is depressed, the family is depressed, but you go in there... and you get attached to people, but you go in there and help them have some dignity, companionship and friendship. It turns out to be very rewarding." Sergeant Travis also finds people With solid religious beliefs more able to meet the trauma of death than those without. She said the volunteers are quite willing to talk religion with the dying. The important thing, she. said, is to be able to discuss religion with people with a variety of beliefs. Working with Hospice has given Sergeant Travis emotional strength she feels she's never had before, but it's also given her career new direction. With the events of the past year and the death of her brother, Sergeant Travis is leaving the Air Force and returning home to assist her family. "My brother left a wife and two daughters and I want to be able to help them," she said. She also wants to use her air traffic control experience to pursue a career in the Federal Aviation Administration. But whatever she does, the sergeant is devoted to Hospice and will lend her skills to the same organization in Texas. M title Utah rs. for com petes Sergeant pageant by Ernie standard for beauty contests as is the evening J. Shannon Ogden ALC Public Affairs Office "Every little girl's dream is to participate in a beauty contest. "At least it's been something I've always 3 y y"' - - wanted to "do," said Sgt. Cynthia Keune, counselor in the Social Actions Office, Hill AFB. "And while it isn't affiliated with the Air Force, I think I can reflect favorably on the service by my participation." Sergeant Keune is a candidate for Mrs. Utah in a beauty pageant that begins this evening and concludes tomorrow night at the Woods Cross High School auditorium. Forty contestants are competing for the distinguished title with the winner advancing to national competition. "I don't know how many women applied to be considered originally," she said. "But of that number, the judges narrowed the field to 40." Not bad for her first pageant. "Although I've always wanted to participate, I was always so shy and that's why I never competed when I was single," said Sergeant Keune. ' To be considered, the sergeant submitted a package "much like a job application," she said. The pageant director carefully considered each of the entrants and chose the 40 semifinalists. contest, each woman perDuring the two-da-y forms in three categories, the sergeant said. The first consists of a bathing suit contest which is . f V "yry ) ' U.S. Ait Crrl. Cynthia Kouno Mrs. Utah hopeful on the job. igt Pholo gown competition, Sergeant Keune said. Finally, six judges will begin the final competition which is the interview segment. According to the sergeant, the judges can interview the contestant about anything. "However, I assume they'll ask me about my career in the Air Force," she said. "I don't think they get too many women who are members of the Air Force. So, I'm preparing for a question concerning my work." Sergeant Keune's support comes in the form of Sgt. Timothy J. Keune, her husband of two years. He labors as an Air Force life support technician with the 4 th Tactical Fighter Squadron in the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing. ' Sergeant Keune said she would be honored to represent the Air Force in the contest. "Although I don't officially represent the Air Force in the contest, people will be looking at me as such," she said. Along with a very supportive husband, which is significant during the pageant judging, is a dedication to helping others, which won't hurt Sergeant Keune's chances either. During working hours, she counsels with alcohol and drug abusers. "Although, mostly we work with people with alcohol problems. Individuals with drug problems usually don't remain in the Air Force for long. Especially with the number of people knocking on the door wanting into the service." ; |