I think that truly listening is a gift that we give and receive. It is a sign of respect and equality which allows the person to feel in control of something(when the sickness seems to takes most of it some times), it may even give a sense of power and freedom. In the hospital with an illness, at a time when those senses are left behind, listening bring back the humanity and equality in the relationship, not only the vulnerability side of a person but the strength also present.