Here to help navigate the day-to-day realities, offering practical wisdom grounded in lived experience, and supporting simple rhythms to make the most of each day.
Keep the focus on quality of life, dignity,
and compassionate care.
-
The Journey Continues
Melanie, the love of my life for 30 years, would always encourage me to continue to embrace life to the fullest, one day at a time, after her life journey came to an end. She would also tell me to be sure to find that “special” someone to continue sharing my life journey with. During…
-
Post Terminal Prognosis: Topic No. 7 – Creating a Heaven on Earth
“No one can stop a ticking clock. But the great ones…the great ones always find a way to slow it down.” Kevin Costner’s character, Sonny Weaver, Jr., makes this very insightful statement as the challenges of the day continued to pile up in the movie, “Draft Day.” As in life itself, especially following traumatic events…
-
Post Terminal Prognosis: Topic No. 6 – When You Love Someone…
“When you love someone, you will do anything to keep them from dying,” said Shaun, the main character in the hit TV medical drama, “The Good Doctor,” when conversing with a fellow colleague following a sudden terminal diagnosis given to his mentor and good friend, Dr. Glassman, during an episode in Season 1. As I…
-
Post Terminal Prognosis: Topic No. 5 (Part 2 of 2) – Pre-Planning for Funeral/Burial and EOL Care
While a living will or other documents may be in place, the following forms will enable you to provide emergency and/or medical personnel with a more concise and clear understanding of the TiLOs wishes should he/she be unable to communicate. Please make sure that the stated wishes of the TiLO are consistent with the content…
-
Post Terminal Prognosis: Topic No. 4 (Part 1 of 2) – Pre-Planning for Funeral/Burial and EOL Care
As you read this particular blog post, please keep this very important point in mind: ~I am not giving up, we just need to prepare for every possible outcome.~ Now, before reading on please take a deep breath and try to clear your mind of all other issues or concerns for a moment. Without meaning…
-
Post Terminal Prognosis: Topic No. 3 – Conventional vs. Alternative Medicine
Based upon the nature of a terminal prognosis, generally speaking, the patient will more than likely die in six months or less regardless if they receive any form of treatment or not. This is a very important factor to consider when addressing the issue of conventional vs. alternative medicine options, quantity vs. quality of life,…
-
Post Terminal Prognosis: Topic No. 2 – Living While Dying
‘Living while dying’ is a term or phrase that I have always used while caring for TiLOs (an acronym that I use to affectionately refer to “terminally-ill loved ones”) as a reminder to help them make the most of each day, one day at a time. As I have noted in a previous blog, the…
-
Post Terminal Prognosis: Topic No. 1 – Quality of Life vs. Quantity of Life
Quality of Life refers to focusing on the palliative care aspects of a TiLOs daily life with any treatments limited to minimizing symptoms and discomforts including among other things pain management to maximize comfort. Quantity of life is essentially focusing on the extension of survivability of a TiLO by administering treatments in an effort to…
Take My Hand 