Ashlyn Kinard: 24B!!!
“Take this syringe to house 24B!!!” This simple phrase did not seem like much at the time but turned out to be life-changing.
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This specific day in the pharmacy was like every other day: you receive prescriptions, fill the medicines, and send them to the patients. As an intern, I was responsible for many different things. These included my normal daily tasks, learning from the pharmacist, and assisting in unexpected events that may arise throughout the day. Around noon my supervisor ran up to me with a small bag that held a small plastic syringe, and frantically said “Ashlyn, take this syringe to house 24B!!!” Now, I was confused of why this task was asked of me in a frantic voice. It was just a plastic syringe so why did it cause my calm quiet boss to slightly panic? With a clear look of confusion on my face, I started my adventure toward this house.
These homes were beside the pharmacy and typically housed older residents who required constant medical care. I had always stayed in the pharmacy and never necessarily needed to go out and explore these homes. As I started my walk, all thought about was, “Where am I going” and “What is the quickest route.” Not once on my walk there did I try to prepare myself for what I may be walking into. I was still trying to figure out the reasoning behind the panic in the pharmacy, so my adrenaline was pumping. As an intern, I filled many medications that had to be taken with a syringe; most were over-the-counter medications so, I did not think the doors I was about to walk through would change the way I look at life.
With my thoughts calming down and adrenaline still pumping, I arrived at 24B and nervously walked inside. I was anxiously greeted by the nurse and the patient's entire family. The windows were closed, and the lights were dimmed. A look of fear was in everyone's eyes. It was at this moment that I realized what situation I had just walked into. The sweet old lady, surrounded by her family, was nearing the end of her life. The syringe I just handed over was used to give her morphine, a drug to comfort a dying individual. Not once did it cross my mind that this is what the syringe was going to be used for. The panicked voices all made sense now. I looked around the home and all I saw was fear, pain, love, and tears. It was a room filled with people who sadly knew what the near future held but were still remembering all the memories they had cherished with their loved ones. The sweet lady was in a lot of physical pain, but you could still tell she was a fighter who was being as strong as she could while her family was present.
I stood there in house 24B flooded with my emotions. Physically, I had to appear professional but emotionally I felt that I was falling to pieces. The nurse calmly drew up the morphine and I froze in my emotions. After a little while, the medicine was administered and I started my journey back to the pharmacy. At first, my journey back was peaceful, but then the voices in my head began. I realized this may have been the time her family had to say goodbye to her. All I could think about was that soon the sweet old lady may not be here with her family anymore. The walk back felt like it took hours, my emotions and thoughts were all over the place. Some of the journey is still fuzzy in my memory to this day.
Upon my arrival at the pharmacy, nothing there felt different. Everyone was still doing their normal job and no questions were asked. I had to go back to my task as an intern and be professional. There was no time to process how I felt, I had things to learn and had to move on with my day. The day went on and I did what I had to do all while constantly thinking about the sweet old lady and her family.
The drive home was similar to the walk back. My thoughts were everywhere, and incident still was not clear in my memory. I do remember relating to the surrounding family more than the lady herself. All I could think about was how they felt and whether I would be in that situation one day. That night at home seemed a little quiet to me, I was not the happy bubbly self that everyone was used to. I could not stop thinking about how I should cherish life and be thankful for every moment you are blessed to have with the ones who love you. You never truly know when it is your last day so always hug your loved ones and tell them you love them.
I have seen this specific patient's name hundreds of times and have filled numerous prescriptions, but it was not until that moment that I emotionally connected with her. It made me wonder how many other patients were at this same point in life and took my focus off just my specific tasks and put me in a different emotional position in life. After this experience, I always thought differently when I filled morphine. Instead of sending it straight to the pharmacist to be checked, I would say a little prayer for the individual and their family. No matter if morphine was being used for the same reasons or not, it never hurts to pray for someone.
In the pharmacy, you normally do not have the emotional connection with the patients. This day was different, and this difference made it so special. You get your tasks done for the day and move on with your life. You do not see the patients as often, so you are mostly unaware of their health progression. It feels like you are playing the background role in their care. This seemed to be true throughout the duration of my experience until this specific day. Sometimes the most unexpected interactions influence you to reflect and see your life from a different perspective.
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Ashlyn Kinard is from Prosperity, South Carolina. She is graduating in May of 2026 with a BS in Medical Biology and minors in Chemistry and Forensic Science. She completed an internship at GeneRx Pharmacy during the summer of 2023. She plans to attend Medical School to further her education.