1) Take one wise, caring nurse and medical social worker, Helen Allison, with a lifetime of experience in caring for the seriously ill,
2) Toss in a gift for storytelling,
3) Recruit a professional writer, Irene Allison, who just happens to be a daughter and every bit as committed to being a voice for the vulnerable,
4) Shake it all up with love, compassion, and a dash of courage,
5) Sprinkle in some hands-on research in foreign lands,
6) Work diligently, with exacting patience and boundless determination,
7) Laugh as much as you can because, believe us, you're going to need it,
8) Take a deep breath, then release the book on a journey of its own.