Rebecca Galloway from Tulip Cremation interviews Barbara
Barbara Karnes, RN, is considered by many to be the “godmother” of hospice, having written the popular and accessible hospice education book for families, “Gone From My Sight” back in 1985. The little blue book has sold more than 35 million copies worldwide and continues to be a resource for understanding the dying process. After writing dozens of other similar books, Karnes is now an internationally respected speaker, educator, author, and thought leader on matters of end-of-life and a renowned authority on the dying process.
But Karnes experienced her own loss in September of 2023 with the death of her husband of 63 years, Jack Karnes, who was 89. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer in May and was gone by September. She talked with us from her home in Vancouver, Washington, to share her experience because, as she says, “I figure even with all my end-of-life knowledge, if I’m experiencing this, then so is everyone else. And everyone else might not know that this is normal and that this is part of living. So I want to give people permission by just looking at my example. This is all sorting out life.”
Click the link below to read the rest of the article:
Barbara Karnes on What She’s Learned in the ‘School of Grief’
Resources discussed in this article:
Gone From My Sight: The Dying Experience
2 comments
MARGARET M MYER
I was unable to access the article – only the list of resources discussed in the article.
About twenty years ago, I completed hospice volunteer training in Oregon in a program where Barbara Karnes was a featured speaker. I have used and shared her booklets since that time.
Five years ago, my husband was finally diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in July and also died in September. I would really like to read her latest comments regarding our similar experiences.
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BK Books replied:
Hi Margaret, I’m sorry you can’t access today’s blog article. Go to https://bkbooks.com/ click on Blogs and today’s should pop up. For other articles put your topic in the search bar and all the blogs I have written for that topic will come forward. Blessings! Barbara
I was unable to access the article – only the list of resources discussed in the article.
About twenty years ago, I completed hospice volunteer training in Oregon in a program where Barbara Karnes was a featured speaker. I have used and shared her booklets since that time.
Five years ago, my husband was finally diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in July and also died in September. I would really like to read her latest comments regarding our similar experiences.
———
BK Books replied:
Hi Margaret, I’m sorry you can’t access today’s blog article. Go to https://bkbooks.com/ click on Blogs and today’s should pop up. For other articles put your topic in the search bar and all the blogs I have written for that topic will come forward. Blessings! Barbara
Marcia
Oh thank you for your awesome thoughts. I am on the same journey 62 years of marriage, gone 26 months, and you are right on with denial, feelings, challenges (I’ve learned hundreds of things I never wanted to know about cars and houses!). Bless you for being so honest. I’m sure it will help thousands. Marcia
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BK Books replied:
Bless you fellow traveler on this new grief road. Barbara
Oh thank you for your awesome thoughts. I am on the same journey 62 years of marriage, gone 26 months, and you are right on with denial, feelings, challenges (I’ve learned hundreds of things I never wanted to know about cars and houses!). Bless you for being so honest. I’m sure it will help thousands. Marcia
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BK Books replied:
Bless you fellow traveler on this new grief road. Barbara