My first Patient in a World of his own, so near yet so distant

Abstract This experience is about a medical student meeting his very first patient, an elderly person. Not knowing what to expect, he starts his excitement-filled journey juggling different, and often conflicting, emotions towards himself, the patient, and his family. The medical student explores the constant struggle of life faced by his patient and in particular, his carer – the wife. I met John as part of a module during my first year of medical school. John is now 95 years old and suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease. Every time I would go and visit him, he would sit quietly in the chair whilst I conversed with…