Mary Jean
asked
Stephen P. Kiernan:
Read The Hummingbird while helping my sister through her last days of life after fighting a valiant battle with cancer. Worried it would be too hard to read now; instead, it proved to be cathartic as she passed last week. "Nurse Birch" was so often helping Barclay Reed with the same sorts of issues we were dealing with, along w/our own Hospice nurses--same meds, techniques, compassionate acts, etc. Thank you! ?
Stephen P. Kiernan
Hi Mary Jean. I am sorry that you lost your sister, and I hope your sadness is not too heavy. She was lucky to have you to help her with the tough work of finishing her life, and I am glad to hear that hospice was at her side as well. You could not ask for better support.
There are so many opportunities for compassion and connection, if a person's pain and other symptoms are under expert professional control. I hope you and your sister had meaningful moments right to the end of her life.
Thank you for writing and my best to you and your family.
There are so many opportunities for compassion and connection, if a person's pain and other symptoms are under expert professional control. I hope you and your sister had meaningful moments right to the end of her life.
Thank you for writing and my best to you and your family.
More Answered Questions
Judy Walston
asked
Stephen P. Kiernan:
My book club "The LitLadies" will be discussing The Hummingbird. I am hosting, LOVED the book, and wondered how you became so interested in Hospice, Palliative Care & Advanced directives? Our book club has been together for about 19 years now and we are all at the age that this is a topic of discussion. Your descriptions of Professor Rarclay Reed's last days and Deborah's care of him was so well done!
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