Mary Jean
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.

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