Author Archives: Debra L. Stang (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

“I Miss You” by Pat Thomas

Easy-to-understand information about death for children

“I Miss You: A First Look at Death” is a non-fiction book for children around the ages of four to seven. It uses simple language and metaphors to discuss death and what happens after a person dies. It is part … Continue reading

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“At the Gate” by Henrik Nordbrandt

The sudden death of a loved one makes the poet reflect

Dying takes place in so many different ways. Some people, for instance, die slowly as the result of a terminal illness or a condition like heart disease. Others die swiftly, victims of an accident or a fast-acting illness. It is … Continue reading

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Non-Depressed People Outlive People with Depression

Why do depressed people die earlier?

A 60-year study that ended in 2011 found that men and women with depression lived an average of seven to 18 years less that people who did not have depression. When the study started, it appeared that only men with … Continue reading

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“If we wait until our lives are free from sorrow or difficulty, then we wait forever. And miss the entire point.”

- Dirk Benedict
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Why Does Earlier Hospice Care Improve the End of Life?

Palliative care professionals believe terminally ill people wait too long to sign up for hospice

A study performed by the Yale School of Medicine suggests that receiving hospice care earlier in your disease process can improve the quality of the end of your life. Right now, many people are admitted to hospice within a few … Continue reading

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“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The near loss of a son inspires a song of hope

Grieving a loss is always painful, but grieving during the holiday season when most other people seem so cheerful is especially hard. This was the position of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in December, 1863. Two years earlier, his beloved wife, Fanny, … Continue reading

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