Final Gifts : Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying

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Summary: A strongly recommended resource
Review: Final Gift offers comfort to caregivers of dying family members. I wish I had had it when my husband was dying, but it has helped me to read it even after his death.

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Summary: A wonderful book, answers so many questions.
Review: This book answered so many questions for me and my family. I would recommened it to families and health professionals who are faced with terminal diseases.

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Summary: You must own this book!
Review: Five years ago one of my dearest friends was dying of cancer. His friends could see the end approaching but he wanted to fight to the very end. When his health care provider offered hospice services, he refused because he was not willing to agree to "no heroic measures." His statement was, "I want them to try everything to keep me alive." My husband and I had been caring for him and we took a weekend break to visit family. In one of our favorite used book stores I literally fell over this book. I bought it and started reading it to my husband on our way home. I was so impressed with the information and the comfort it provided to the patient and the family that I suggested we read it to our friend. We started reading on Sunday. On Monday he agreed to the hospice care and he died on Thursday. His last statement to his former wife was, "Please leave me alone, woman. I'm trying to die here." I know that the stories in this book and the truth about what it is like to die helped him let go. Since that experience I have bought numerous copies of this book because I keep giving it away. We will all face death and this book is the best handbook there is.

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Summary: I wish I had read this book sooner.
Review: I wish I had read this remarkable book prior to my mother's death. Perhaps I would have been able to better understand what she was trying to communicate to me. It should be required reading for anyone involved with the terminally ill.

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Summary: must read for anyone caring for terminallly ill
Review: FINAL GIFTS was recommended to me when my father was dying of pancreatic cancer. As an only child who had just buried her mother (and wife of father for 53 years) several months earlier, this book brought an inner peace to me when the doctor indicated Dad had at the most six months. As it turned out, thank God, I had him for two years. But there were several times when we thought we would lose him. It was a great help to have read FINAL GIFTS and know the signs of the final times and also that until Dad had done all he wanted and felt he needed to do, he was not going anywhere. On his final day, my son, who was extremely close to his Pap, would not tell him it was okay to go and be at peace. My Dad lingered and suffered the entire day. The doctors and nurses could not understand what kept him going. At 5:45PM my son finally whispered his goodbyes to Dad and he left go and went with dignity and peace at 6:00PM, with his minister praying at his side and his entire family surrounding his bed. Knowing that Mom was on the other side for him also made letting go somewhat easier. FINAL GIFTS is a good source of information and should be read by any and all persons caring for loved ones with terminal illness.

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Summary: Everyone should read this book--it will change you forever.
Review: My brother bought this for all of us to read as we care for our terminally ill father. It helps replace fear with peace, teaches us how to relate to him and know what he needs, and gives us the knowlege to ease his passage into the next life. A most important book--everyone should read it.

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Summary: A consoling and sensible tool to help families and friends.
Review: I found this book enormously helpful while my younger brother was dying of cancer. Seeing all the examples of other hospice patients gave me an idea of what to expect. And the concrete information, such as how the breathing changes near the very end, enabled me to make sure his wife was in the room when the moment came. It is humane and realistic.

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Summary: Extremely comforting and helpful. Highly recommended.
Review: Short and poignant stories filled with comforting and insightful thoughts and advice from two experienced and compassionate hospice nurses as they help their patients and their loved ones face death with peace and dignity.

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Summary: A MUST-READ for those dealing with a terminal illness...
Review: My family was ever-so fortunate to have Maggie Callanan as the hospice nurse for our father, when he was dying of Stomach Cancer back in 1993. At the time, we were introduced to Maggie via a Catholic Priest who had worked with Maggie in a Hospice facility, and thought the world of her. Maggie's words of wisdom to us in person, and through her book 'Final Gifts' helped us to understand and to appreciate the process of dying, and indeed the gifts of love that it can bring, so long as you are looking for the right signs. Since my father's death, I have given 'Final Gifts' to numerous people, who all agree that it was helpful as well as healing.

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Summary: Christians Beware
Review: Most of the other reviewers indicated how hopeful the book made them feel. I admit that it would make everyone feel good about death. However, Christians who may be thinking of buying this book for a loved one should be aware that this book strongly implies that it makes no difference what you believe... life after death is a wonderful experience for all. The book gives examples of atheists, Hindus and other non-Christians having Near Death Awareness experiences that are wonderful and loving. The danger in this is that a dying person would have no reason to come to Christ and be saved if he or she is led to believe that it makes no difference what one believes. I am commenting on this aspect of the book because I did not see that anyone else mentioned it and I think people should be aware of this before deciding whether to purchase the book.