Infant Loss
October 15 was National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. I’ve been asked to write about the grief experienced with the loss of a baby through miscarriage or stillbirth. I...
Something to Think About: a blog on end of life
Death
Dying Soon After A Spouse
I know “dying of a broken heart” is used frequently when death comes as a result of a tragic life event. I’m not sure that is actually why the person...
When You're The Only Survivor
Having friends, interacting with others, is an important part of that living. Even introverts need one or two people with whom to relate. I don’t know how old you are,...
Letting Go...
QUESTION: What to do if the Doctor suggests stopping life support? RESPONSE: No one wants to be in the position of determining when a person dies, not doctors, not family....
The Future
I caught myself thinking, as I folded laundry this evening, that I want this day to end. I want this week to hurry up as I have something in the...
Three Keys- To The Dying Process
We can die gradually two ways. We just get old and our body wears out or we get a life threatening illness, disease, and die gradually that way....
Is a Peaceful Unmedicated Death Possible?
QUESTION: I am a 30 year old woman working as a psychology intern at a local hospital. My engagement in the hospice program has me thinking a lot about my...
The "Do Over"
Then one day I got a phone call saying the baby was found dead in its crib---SIDS Only we didn’t call it Sudden Infant Death Syndrome then. It was just...
God or no God?
QUESTION: I am a Hospice Nurse for 3+ years but have been a nurse for over 35 years with varying experiences with death and dying prior to my present Hospice...
Death of a Child and Bereavement
QUESTION: Death of a child. Why can't I move on? It seems I am stuck in pain all the time. I can’t think of any loss greater than the loss...
Ideas For A New Hospice Nurse
If you teach your families well about the approaching end of life there will be no problems with them understanding the labor of dying. Having someone you care about dying is...
What Does The Future Hold For Mom With ALS?
ALS is horrific disease, not that there is a “good” disease but ALS traps a good mind in a slowly deteriorating, non functioning body affecting not only the ability to...