Hi, Olivia. As I think you know, I was a hospital/hospice chaplain for 25 years. The experiences of being with people as they anticipate death (and as they die) enriched my life beyond measure. Thank you for this telling of your mother's dying/death. I wish I could have known her. Bless you in your remembering.
Oh my goodness Dorri. I knew you were a chaplain. It somehow escaped me that it was a hospice chaplain. Oh the stories you must have to tell. Hopefully we can connect on one of our future trips through Asheville!
Most of my work was in the hospital ... with dying people or with after someone's death. My official work with hospice was limited but awesome. And yes, I have many stories!
Your Mother’s resolve and wisdom are remarkable. Thank you for taking us upon this journey. These are important conversations and understandings to have. You share them eloquently.
Thank you Janet. I agree about the importance of these conversations. We’re all going to die eventually yet the reality of death is largely unexplored. I don’t know if I’ll be given “advanced notice” as my mom was, but if so, I hope I can likewise face the inevitable with a similar peace, calm, and resolve.
We are fortunate to have had good mentoring from our Mothers. My Mom was also a nurse and was explicit about what decisions she wanted carried out regarding her own possibilities at end of life. I was able to advocate for her in that way, and carry it forth for her. I am grateful for her clarity and what I now see as her guidance. They teach us still.
Very touching story & poem.... (fyi-"90 Minutes in Heaven", by Don Piper, helped me after the passing of my daughter; the author provides an account of what he actually experienced after he was involved in an auto accident in which he was pronounced dead.)
Yes! I actually have that book. I bought it years ago. It’s on my bookshelf somewhere. The one thing I remember is him saying how when he came back to his pain wracked and broken body he was actually sad and depressed for a long while and his wife didn’t fully understand why, but it was because of the splendor of what he had experienced.
The spouse of my best friend died for a few minutes on the operating table during surgery for a heart aneurysm. He is our age, and his experience is stunning as well. He said it forever resolved the question for him of life after death.
Hi, Olivia. As I think you know, I was a hospital/hospice chaplain for 25 years. The experiences of being with people as they anticipate death (and as they die) enriched my life beyond measure. Thank you for this telling of your mother's dying/death. I wish I could have known her. Bless you in your remembering.
Oh my goodness Dorri. I knew you were a chaplain. It somehow escaped me that it was a hospice chaplain. Oh the stories you must have to tell. Hopefully we can connect on one of our future trips through Asheville!
Most of my work was in the hospital ... with dying people or with after someone's death. My official work with hospice was limited but awesome. And yes, I have many stories!
Your Mother’s resolve and wisdom are remarkable. Thank you for taking us upon this journey. These are important conversations and understandings to have. You share them eloquently.
Thank you Janet. I agree about the importance of these conversations. We’re all going to die eventually yet the reality of death is largely unexplored. I don’t know if I’ll be given “advanced notice” as my mom was, but if so, I hope I can likewise face the inevitable with a similar peace, calm, and resolve.
We are fortunate to have had good mentoring from our Mothers. My Mom was also a nurse and was explicit about what decisions she wanted carried out regarding her own possibilities at end of life. I was able to advocate for her in that way, and carry it forth for her. I am grateful for her clarity and what I now see as her guidance. They teach us still.
Very touching story & poem.... (fyi-"90 Minutes in Heaven", by Don Piper, helped me after the passing of my daughter; the author provides an account of what he actually experienced after he was involved in an auto accident in which he was pronounced dead.)
Yes! I actually have that book. I bought it years ago. It’s on my bookshelf somewhere. The one thing I remember is him saying how when he came back to his pain wracked and broken body he was actually sad and depressed for a long while and his wife didn’t fully understand why, but it was because of the splendor of what he had experienced.
The spouse of my best friend died for a few minutes on the operating table during surgery for a heart aneurysm. He is our age, and his experience is stunning as well. He said it forever resolved the question for him of life after death.
Thanks for reading!