Care at the end of life | Laura Aresca | TEDxRiodelaPlata

Laura Aresca is a medical specialist in clinical psychology and psycho-oncologist. She is director of a palliative care home and manager of a home inpatient palliative care team. A difficult and necessary subject, that she dissects in this talk to grasp how to give help during very complicated times with all the love and care required. Laura is also president of Fundación Paliar and a professor.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

I've been looking after people
in the last moments of their lives

for 23 years.

And in these years I learned many things,

some of which I would like
to share with you today.

I learned that working at the center
of other people's pain

doesn't make you a bitter or sad person.

Quite the opposite.

It teaches you to appreciate
every moment of your existence,

and to be grateful for all you have.

I learned that miracles exist.

But maybe in a different way

to what we'd like them to be.

Like being able to see a miracle
in an act of reconciliation,

forgiveness, love or transformation.

I learned that humor
is a very powerful tool

that allows you to make some space
in the middle of the solemnity,

insecurity and fear

generated by the close presence of death.

I learned that we doctors need to work
harder on our omnipotence,

be more humble

and not feel frustrated
or that we have failed

when despite doing everything we can,

the results are not what we expected.

I learned that when
we are going through difficult times,

it is important to look around.

There are many people who are suffering

and in much more adverse conditions
compared to ours.

And that allows you to put
your own problem in perspective.

Finally, I learned and I keep learning,
that it's not just about healing.

Above all, it is about
bringing relief and being there.

Cultivating love and compassion
helps facing suffering.

And they can be a legacy for the family.

Cultivating love and compassion

can leave a path of transcendence
for others to tread.

(Applause)