“Torch” by Catherine Broadwall
Credit: Felice Wölke
Outside my window is a gold, gold tree.
Its leaves are not ombré. They are solid
gold. Like a kid might color in a sun with yellow crayon.
The tree glows like a holy pyre, a fluttering liturgical
candle.
Set against the opal sky, wavering. Burning.
A flame I could warm my hands on.
New Research Reveals Pathways to Restore Aging Muscles
As we age, our muscles begin to weaken, increasing difficulty in performing everyday tasks. Muscle weakness can make older adults more prone to falling and reduce levels of independence despite sharp cognitive functioning. But now, research conducted by Stanford University’s Blau Laboratory has unveiled groundbreaking insights into the role of the enzyme 15-PGDH in muscular degeneration associated with aging. The study’s findings hold significant promise for potential future treatments aimed at restoring muscles damaged by injury or aging.
Palliative Education for Nurses Is on the Rise
More nursing schools are offering palliative education to meet the demand for patient care.
Why are more and more nursing schools and universities offering palliative education? Because nursing can be an even tougher job when caring for patients with long-term chronic conditions or through the end of life. And as the need for palliative care increases, the additional education is proving to be valuable for the profession. Continue reading
“Thank You for Loving Me” Examines Gratitude in Palliative Care
In “Thank You for Loving Me,” patients and family members cited love as a source of gratitude.
Credit: Vlada Karpovich
It’s widely understood that maintaining a sense of gratitude benefits patients in palliative care. But a series of letters and interviews in the study “Thank You for Loving Me” has provided greater insight into what gratitude means to patients and relatives, and how it reflects the way they view themselves and others.
The Tragic Death of Nex Benedict
Nex Benedict
Credit: Kasandra Phelps via GoFundMe
Nex Benedict, a 16-year-old nonbinary Indigenous student from Owasso, Oklahoma, died on February 8th, 2024, just a day after they were assaulted in a school bathroom. Although the medical examiner’s preliminary report found that their death was likely the result of a lethal combination of two medications and not the injuries sustained in the attack, questions remain about the accuracy of the initial incident report.
“Anxiety and Hope in Japanese Art,” on Display at the Met
“Death of the Historical Buddha”
Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art
“Anxiety and Hope in Japanese Art,” the exhibit currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, offers a unique look at how Japanese art has intertwined grief and suffering with ideas about rebirth. Combining sacred objects from early Japan, medieval painted scrolls, modern woodblock prints, and garments, the exhibit covers a wide range of ways that Japanese artists have responded to Buddhist conceptions of death. The pain of pain and the suffering caused by grief is fully shown in images such as “Death of the Historical Buddha,” in which followers, priests and animals are all shown weeping after the death of the Buddha. Yet the initiated know that the death of the Buddha is not the end, but rather a release from suffering, and some of his wise followers mimic the peaceful expression on Buddha’s face.
Our Monthly Tip: Make an “In Case of Death” File to Ease Loved One’s Grief: 
Passing of Beloved Comedian Births a New Comedy Festival: 
Forest Bathing Eases Grief by Soaking in Nature: 
