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Summary: Impressive insights into a sensitive subject
Review: Anyone who has been or could be a caregiver could benefit from this special book that sensitively presents difficult information without emotion. The concept of palliative care is one that needs to be fully understood by the general public as a right that they can and should anticipate from the health care field.
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Summary: Comforting, if you don't know what to do...
Review: ....read this book!Over the past few years, when faced with the information that someone I'd known was dying, I did - nothing. Retreating, I was terrified of my own mortality and of what I might do if I were around someone who was dying. Would I say the wrong thing or nothing at all? Would I cry, or do something to inadvertently hurt them? What is dying like? This book is great as a comforting instruction manual on what happens, what to do, and what not to do. It begins with information about what happens to the body when it is in the process of dying, then moves into experiences the authors have had in dealing with people who are dying, or whose loved ones are dying. They have helpful information throughout the book for those, like me, who were unsure about what to say or do. They include individual stories about messages people send when they are approaching death and how not to miss them; seeing people who have already died and what that may mean; symbolic dreams and how to let the dreamer find the meaning; choosing a time to die (not by suicide); waiting for a person to arrive or an event to happen. Family and friends often ignore this precious information. It seems illogical, far out, too much like stories about abduction by aliens. We brush them off as hallucinations, caused by denial or possibly drug-induced. When I first heard volunteers, nurses and others who work in hospice tell stories of people who have similar Nearing Death Experiences (not to be confused with "Near Death Experiences"), I was dubious. However, in my readings and hospice volunteer work, I find that these stories are universal, timeless and not as new age-y as I'd thought. We've been ignoring these wonderfully soothing stories of how people die, because for years we've moved birthing and dying out of the family and into hospitals. We are beginning to move them back. If you've lost a loved one, are dealing with someone who is dying (yourself or someone else), if you avoid visiting friends who are dying or if you're struggling with your own awareness that someday you will die, please read this book. It will put your mind at ease.
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Summary: Final Gifts from the dying to the living
Review: Authentic, luminous & responsive stories &understandings of the special awareness, needs & communications ofthose at the edge of life, those nearing their dying & their loved ones. As we stood watch as our Poppa was ending his earthly days, we found this book profoundly moving, deeply calming & clearly compassionate. Maggie Callanan & Patricia Kelley have sewn together a quilt of tender, often troubled deathbed experiences where the hints for redemption, for reconciliation, for courage can be recognized. We found Final Gifts repeatedly useful & life changing ...
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Summary: Comforting and Healing
Review: FINAL GIFTS is one of the most heartfelt and inspirational books I have ever read. The stories in this book lead the reader into insight. Thus, creating eternal links with dying and deceased loved ones. Behind every story are images, feelings, and thoughts pulled from the past to be lived in the present. It is a way of calling our soul forward to live our experiences again and again. These eternal links enable those left behind to create an inner atmosphere for soul work making it possible for grievers to heal. -- Samuel Oliver, author of, WHAT THE DYING TEACH US: LESSONS ON LIVING.
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Summary: A Wonderful Release
Review: I was lucky: a friend, a hospice volunteer, gave me a copy of this book during the last six months of my father's life. (He passed away in December 1996, while in hospice care, of complications of lymphoma and pancreatic cancer.) I read the book in a day or two, and immediately passed it on to my mother, brother, uncle. We were all with him at the end and we were able to let him go with understanding and dignity. It was again helpful three months later when my 98 year old grandmother passed away. This book has been so helpful that I now keep copies on hand for friends facing the same struggle. I even gave copies to my ministers in hopes that they will gain from it personally as well as pass it to others facing the loss of loved ones. Read it before you need it, and then read it again.
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Summary: A MUST READ - BEFORE OR AS IT HAPPENS
Review: My mother died of ovarian cancer at age 62 in June '98 after 8 long years of fighting. One of the hospice nurses recommended this book before she went into hospice care. I read it, my sister read it and my mother's husband read it before my mom died. Words cannot express the comfort, knowledge and insight it gave us. My sister and I were with mom everynight at the hospice for about 1-1/2 months. We hung onto her every word. Don't ever let anyone tell you that what the dying are saying is nonsence and gibberish. She said some really amazing things that, thanks to the enlightenment of the book, we completely understood. It was uncanny. Every family member should read this book if possible BEFORE the end comes. It helped us more than words can say. Also, I must say hospice care is the way to go, it is SO much better than a hospital. My aunt and Grandmother died in hospitals, of cancer. If we had only known then what we know now....... God bless all of you who are struggling with this issue. I wish you strength.
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Summary: A must read for family and friends of a dying loved one
Review: My mother was diagnosed with a rare and untreatable form of cancer in September of 1998 and died just ten weeks later. Shortly after her diagnosis, a friend gave me Final Gifts which I read in three days. Despite the intense pain of losing my mom at such a young age, I felt such an enormous sense of peace after reading this book. Final Gifts really transformed my thinking from focusing exclusively on her death to understanding and appreciating the sacredeness of her journey to heaven.
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Summary: "Incredibly accurate" and comforting
Review: In February of 1998 I lost my mother to Lukemia. I was with her to the very last moment of her life. One of her nurses suggested this book after she had died. I read it and it was almost as if the author was there and experiencing the ordeal with me. I took my time reading the book and it really answered all of my questions. I was especially comforted in the fact that while my mother was dying, she talked to Dad. He had died 14 yrs ago. I know and believe it was not hallucination. As the book has an entire chapter dedicated to this subject. I was glad that Dad was there to take her home with him. I still miss them both very much, but I take comfort in knowing they are both fine. This book was incredibly comforting in helping me understand dying, and anybody faced with this situation should read this book. I highly recommend it because it will help.
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Summary: An uplifting book full of hope for those left behind
Review: When my family brought hospice in to care for my mother, Maggie Callanan was our hospice nurse. Through her, we were able to help our mother die with dignity and grace. She helped us every step of the way. 10 years later, as my Dad was also dying, we again called hospice and, thru sheer coincidence, Maggie was again assigned to us. This is when we learned of Final Gifts. This book allowed my entire family to truly appreciate the dreams and thoughts my Dad was having and helped us to understand what he was experiencing and assisted us in providing for him as he departed this life. I am convinced that it was no coincidence that this wonderful nurse, this angel on earth, entered our lives a second time. Reading this book has given me renewed hope that there is something beyond this life and it truly is a better place.
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Summary: An absolute must have to cope w/trying to understand....
Review: In the fall of 1994, a friend gave this to me when my dad was dying of kidney cancer. I had researched the medical aspects of how his disease progressed and what could/could not be done but wasn't at all prepared for his emotional state, nor what mine would be. Final Gifts brought me through that experience and even closer to my dad before his death. I was the only family member to read it and it seemed the only family member to really connect with him thru his experience and 45 days of really dying. I can only say that although I miss my dad every day and still need him, he gave me many final gifts before his death and I embraced his life and death with the help of this book. I was comforted and at peace with him thru the process.
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