I was asked by medical students, what was my favourite part of working in Palliative Care? I instantly replied, having a laugh with my patients and their families. Even though a person may be dying, they hold on strong to their sense of humour as it still feels good to laugh. To see the lighter side of even your own end of life is something that I have seen often. People still want to feel included in life and still want to have some fun. To be treated like a normal human being. My favourite thing after 22 years of medical practice is having a good laugh with my patients.

Last Friday, we had a great time joking around, whilst getting to know each other better. Pain and nausea had settled after a few days of hospice work. It was good to meet him properly for the first time, with his quick wit in full flight. I had trouble keeping up with him, a quip every other minute, followed by puns. Two proponents of Dad Jokes performing sit-down comedy, both riffing off each other’s comments, and enormously enjoying each other’s company. Each the perfect audience for the other. Our companions in the room were briefly forgotten, but we didn’t want them to feel lonely and started including them in our fun making. My team mates were included and then my comedy partner’s family. There were no taboo subjects as we launched into our roast of our room-mates.