WELCOME TO OUR BLOG
Welcome to the SevenPonds.com blog – a community-driven extension of SevenPonds.com! I hope you find comfort and community in the resources and stories featured here. I’m always happy to hear from readers and can be reached at suzette@sevenponds.com.
FEATURED
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10 Facts About Hospice Care You May Not Know" />
10 Facts About Hospice Care You May Not Know: NHPCO stresses that hospice is about living fully, not preparing for death. -
Man of Many Faces" />
Man of Many Faces: A niece says goodbye to her favorite gay uncle, in whom she confided about her own sexuality -
Last Rites: A Catholic Send-Off" />
Last Rites: A Catholic Send-Off: A look at the religion's final prayer procession for the dying
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Tag Archives: terminal illness
In the News: Will Vermont Be the First Legislature to Approve an Aid-in-Dying Bill?
This week they debate a bill similar to Oregon and Washington state ballot initiative laws
Before the Vermont legislature is set to adjourn Saturday, the Senate is still uncertain whether it will pass aid-in-dying legislation, modeled after Oregon’s and Washington state’s Death with Dignity laws approved via ballot initiatives (rather than in legislation). Vermont’s Governor Peter Shumlin … Continue reading
The Power of Touch
A daughter used physical touch to comfort her terminally ill father throughout the last months of his life.
This is the story of Julie, as told by Jeanette Geraci… When Julie flew home for a visit the year before her father passed away, it was clear that his condition — Multiple System Atrophy – was getting worse. Eight … Continue reading
All Americans Encouraged to Learn about Advance Care Planning on National Healthcare Decisions Day
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization stresses the importance of talking with your loved ones.
Yesterday was Healthcare Decisions Day and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization took the opportunity to stress the importance of people talking frankly about the care they would or would not want if ever faced with a serious medical … Continue reading
Book Review: Two Weeks of Life (2008)
Eleanor Clift's memoir examines terminal illness, hospice, and the Terri Schiavo case
Eleanor Clift’s husband, Tom Brazaitis, died in 2005. For years, the Newsweek journalist cared for Tom, who had been diagnosed with kidney cancer in 1999, and towards the end she took him home to spend his final days in his … Continue reading
Posted in Lending Insight
Tagged Eleanor Clift, Grief, Hospice, Palliative Care, Right to Die, terminal illness, Terri Schiavo, Two Weeks of Life
2 Comments
Book Review: My Mother, Your Mother by Dennis McCullough, M.D.
A thorough look at the step-by-step process for the care of elder parents
My mother always told me, “When I get old, put me on an iceberg and leave me for the polar bears.” I never once took her advice seriously, but after reading Dr. McCullough’s book, I’m starting to reconsider. All joking … Continue reading
What is Advance Directive? – An Interview with Judy Epstein
You already knew about the importance of filling out an advance directive; what about a POLST?
Dr. Judy Neall Epstein is a naturopathic physician and the Clinical Director of the Compassion & Choices End-of-Life Consultation Program. Dr. Epstein spent ten years in private practice before accepting her position at Compassion & Choices, where she works with … Continue reading
The AIDS Crisis and Representations of Heaven in “Angels in America”
The play's poignant, brutally honest take on the physical, mental, emotional crisis of an AIDS patient
Tony Kushner’s Angels in America is almost too big to discuss: a sprawling three-part, six-hour play ambitiously covering themes ranging from love and abandonment, to homosexuality and Mormonism, to faith and religion, to disease and dying, to politics and justice, … Continue reading
Posted in Lending Insight
Tagged AIDS, Angels, Angels in America, Death and Dying, Heaven and Hell, terminal illness
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Nora Ephron Dies of Leukemia at 71
Sad loss of a funny and talented woman and pioneering feminist
I just heard Ms. Ephron passed away. I’ve always been such a great admirer of Nora’s. Being that we are gunning to launch our full website here at SevenPonds, I will offer some of my favorite quotes of hers in … Continue reading
Posted in Just Passed
Tagged Death, Nora Ephron, Obituary, Quotes, terminal illness, When Harry Met Sally, You've Got Mail
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Grace Before Dying
Photography of the end-of-life at Louisiana State Penitentiary
These photographs, taken at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, make up the collection Grace Before Dying, which looks at how, through hospice, volunteer inmates assert and affirm their humanity in an environment designed to isolate and punish. More than 85% of … Continue reading
‘When I Die: Lessons from the Death Zone’ by Philip Gould [Video]
An intimate portrait of a man in his final days
“In six weeks’ time I will be dead. I will be cremated. I will face huge fear,” Philip Gould opens this video in his final weeks before losing the battle to esophageal cancer. “But it IS an extraordinary experience…” he continues. … Continue reading
Posted in Something Special
Tagged Art, Esophageal cancer, Philip Gould, terminal illness, Video
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An Interview with Kate Munger
We discuss the Threshold Choir's mission to provide lovely, comforting songs to the ill and dying
Kate Munger founded the Threshold Choir in 2000 with the idea of creating a chorus of women’s voices that could provide soothing song at people’s bedsides. Today, she administers a large network of of choirs nationwide, from the Northeast to … Continue reading
Easter Bunny Visits Children’s Hospitals
Hospitals Welcome the Joy of the Holiday to Cheer Up Terminally Ill Children
It looks like the Easter Bunny does not overlook hospitals. At hospitals across the country this time of year, the creature of Springtime fantasy and glee is making the rounds to spread a bit of joy to sick children. Last … Continue reading
Kourageous Kids Storybooks Make Children the Heroes of Their Own Stories
Custom Storybooks Offer Strength, Love, Compassion, and Courage to Children with Life-Threatening Illnesses
Kourageous Kids Storybooks was created to bring hope, joy, and laughter to children fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. The organization creates custom picture books that depict the children as heroes and heroines in a story of their choice. The … Continue reading
Posted in Soulful Expressions
Tagged Art, Books, Children, Kourageous Kids Storybooks, Picture book, terminal illness
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An Interview with Marilyn Reiss-Carradero, Pt. 2
The continuation of our conversation on palliative care in the hospital and end-of-life planning
Liz: As a nurse, what kind of special perspective do you have on end-of-life in the hospital? Marilyn: Once you’re in the hospital, the nurse is going to become your best friend. Because we are so much more intimately involved … Continue reading
Helping Children Heal Through Art Therapy
Custom-made Stuffed Toys "Stuffies" Help Children Express Their Emotions -- and Bring Their Creations to Life.
Child’s Own Studio began with a simple gift for a 4-year-old boy and bloomed into a full-fledged craft business, which has made hundreds of unique “softies” – stuffed toys for children based on their own drawings. Child’s Own works to … Continue reading
Posted in Soulful Expressions
Tagged Art, Art therapy, Child, Craft, Grief, Healing, Stuffed toy, terminal illness, Toys
4 Comments
Film Review: 50/50
A Real-to-Life Story About Facing the End-of-Life that Will Make You Laugh and Cry
50/50 is a 2011 biopic that explores the trials of facing terminal illness with candor and without over-dramatization. Based on a true story, this comedy follows Adam, a 27-year-old guy just diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that is … Continue reading
Posted in Lending Insight
Tagged 50/50 Film, Cancer, Chemotherapy, end-of-life, Film Review, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, terminal illness
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What are some End-of-Life issues? An Interview with Jennifer Marsh
Opening up about hospice and the crisis of health care funding in America
Jennifer Marsh, LMFT, MS is Community Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Elizabeth Hospice, a private nonprofit in Escondido, CA. The Elizabeth Hospice provides hospice care and counseling to terminally ill individuals and their families, whether or not they can … Continue reading
Who is Make-a-Wish Foundation? An interview with Jennifer Wilson
Make-a-Wish Aids the Healing Process of Children with Life-Threatening Illnesses
Jennifer Wilson is the Marketing and Promotions Manager for the Greater Bay Area Make-a-Wish Foundation. Make-a-Wish grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions all around the country, and the Greater Bay Area Chapter serves 17 counties around the San … Continue reading
Dragon Mothers: How to Parent a Dying Child
Emily Rapp’s “Notes from a Dragon Mom” distinguishes between directing the future and loving the present
Emily Rapp is a self-proclaimed Dragon Mom. Her baby son, Ronan, is almost certainly going to die before he turns three. He was born with Tay-Sachs, a genetic disease for which there is no cure. Such a horrible fact has … Continue reading