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Summary: This book changed my life.
Review: My father was diagnosed 4 years ago with colon cancer. He endured several operations, many chemotherapy treatments and although he fought to live, he was told in December 98 he had 90 days to live. My aunt bought this book for my mother in December. All 5 children have read it and participated in my fathers death (he passed away on April 23, 1999). This book saved us so much pain and helped the grieving process more than I can say. My dad's final journey was exactly like so many of the trips described in this wonderful book. We helped him pack the car and go home. We miss him terribly but I now believe there is a place much greater than this. (I didn't start reading the book until the afternoon my father was dying and I couldn't believe the things I was seeing before my eyes).I feel I learned about a "big secret" that mysterious thing called death. I will never be afraid to go once my time comes. Buy a copy for everyone you know is dealing with a terminal illness. This is not just a book for cancer patients or elderly people. These two woman (and the hospice program) deserve a medal. Thank you for soothing our broken hearts. Bless you all!
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Summary: Written by Hospice Nurses
Review: I read this book after my father's death on June 5, 1998, and found comfort in its pages because the shared experiences helped me to better understand the territory that my mother, younger sister and I traversed as caregivers in my Dad's final months, days, hours, minutes. This book is a must-read for anyone who has a loved one who is dying. It is also an excellent resource for all nurses, but especially those who work with ICU, CCU or geriatric patients. I respond to email sent by others who are in grief.
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Summary: Helpful and comforting
Review: A friend gave this to me when my mother was dying at home with the wonderful help of Hospice workers. It helped us all get through each day with its gentle insights and good advice. Highly recommended.
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Summary: If you read only one book on dying read this one!
Review: Written by hospice nurses with a lifetime of experience dealing with the dying, you are spared all the cliches about dying. This book trains us to be aware of the messages and information that the dying provide us with. The language of the dying is highly symbolic and indirect, often revealed through visions and dreams. Through dozens of case histories the authors teach by example how to interpret this information, and how to use it to provide the means for a peaceful death. Wonderful for learning how to improve communication with the dying. The book is also rich in background content with some history of hospice tossed in. This book had a truly transformative effect on me, something that I didn't think was possible!! I would really have missed out on some major personal growth if I hadn't read this book!! Extremely well written, this is one of those books that you just can't put down until you've done. I can't say that about any other book on death and dying I've come across.
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Summary: Final Gifts - a must read book!
Review: I read the book on the year anniversary of my father's death. It was well-written. It was highly recommended by a colleague and is a very moving book written by these hospice nurses. A must read for BEFORE the dying process, but helpful for after the death of a loved one!
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Summary: An Absolute Must Read
Review: A friend of my mother sent us this book while we were spending the final weeks of my father's life taking care of him at home. We had hospice services but they came nowhere near touching on our emotional needs as caregivers. Mom was a nurse and intellectually knew what to expect physically through the dying process. This book helped both of us tremendously. Anyone going through caring and slowly losing someone with a terminal illness needs to read this book. It helps give you the courage to say what needs to be said. You'll still have grief but hopefully, less regrets and more understanding. Dad went through every phase of death, like textbook, as I had read in the book. He died on a Wednesday and we knew the weekend before it would be his last weekend with us. Giving final gifts is the last opportunity to give the best of your love to someone while you still can. This is a book to keep extra copies of to give to someone who needs it when you don't know exactly what to say.
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Summary: Read BEFORE death is imminent... change lives and deaths
Review: "Final Gifts" was suggested to me after I spoke to an old friend who called to talk to me after being told he had a week to live. There were many gems within which helped me to communicate well with him and his wife (another close friend) in his final week of life. I am very grateful I was able to read this as my friend was dying instead of after he was gone. I strongly suggest people begin reading this book as soon as they know death is possible: before it is imminent. We need to demystify the dying process and stop being afraid of it. This book does a great service in that direction.
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Summary: HELPED ME TO FEEL NOT QUITE AS SAD
Review: I bought this book after the death of a very good friend. I felt empty and lost and was looking for something to help me to start to understand the logic (or lack of logic) of what had happened. Reading this book helped me to understand better what my friend may have been going through and just gave me the feeling that she is ok now. It is excellantly written by 2 people who obviously care about the work that they do. A sequel would be wonderful.
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Summary: Insightful
Review: Final Gifts is a gift to all who read it. The authors tell compelling stories that illustrate the needs and communication of the dying. Callanan and Kelly do a great job of distinguishing nearing death awareness and near death experiences. It helps the reader understand what the dying are experiencing and what they need for a peaceful death. It is extremely helpful to anyone who cares for the terminally ill. It will change your understanding of the journey of the terminally ill.
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Summary: Excellent Book
Review: You would think that the subject matter would be depressing, but the book is so enlightening that you just don't think of it that way. Being a health care professional, I wanted to understand what seem to be odd statements or actions from patients closing in on the end of life. This book would be good for anyone to read, not just people who have friends or family members who are sick or dying. A friend loaned me this book and it was so good, I have to have my own copy. You won't be disappointed.
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