This morning I had arranged for the viewing of a 55-year old man, who had peacefully died in his sleep, in his bed, of congestive heart failure. Afterwards, the family asked me to tell them “where did he go?” I answered he didn’t go anywhere, he’s right here with us. He just dropped his body…
DetailsAs we see a loved one decline, we brace ourselves for their departure. A lot of our grieving happens before the actual passing. We play out scenarios in our minds of how the world will be without this wonderful being. We preconceive the emotion of loss in the hopes that it will prepare us. Some…
DetailsI accompanied both my parents and my only sister Maia through their cancer treatment and their dying experience. With all three, right after the diagnosis, there was tremendous, blinding fear. The world “cancer” has a toxic, psychological effect on top of whatever physical illness is playing out. Witnessing their doctors who seemed to savor their…
DetailsGoing Through my Sister’s Transition with her Small Children When my sister Maia was diagnosed in 2010 with acute lymphatic leukemia, her children were 3 and 8. For four years, Maia struggled with chemo, radiation, receiving a bone marrow transplant and stem cells. She had an iron will to live and much support from her…
DetailsIn the year 2007, both my parents were diagnosed with cancer. They died in hospice after a lot of care in 2008, only 6 months apart. Being the main caregiver throughout their dying process showed me clearly just how removed from death our culture had become. As each one of my parents reached their last…
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