Tag Archives: Palliative Care



Honoring Dame Cicely Mary Strode Saunders, Founder of Modern Hospice Movement

We look back at her extraordinary life and ongoing legacy
Posted on July 16, 2014 by Christopher Hewitt (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

Just 9 years ago from last Monday, Dame Cicely Mary Strode Saunders’ life came to a close after 87 years. Born in 1918, she marched across the 20th century as a self-starting woman destined to be remembered as the founder … Continue reading →

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“Knocking on Heaven’s Door” by Katy Butler

A cautionary tale of a loss that teaches us how to take control of our own deaths
Posted on April 11, 2014 by Kimberly Lane (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

What happens after a debilitating stroke or a sudden heart attack snatches away the vitality of an elderly parent, spouse, or friend? How can we make the transition from child to caregiver or from spouse to nurse? What questions should … Continue reading →

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A No-Fear Approach to Death

Terminally ill doctor Stephen Wealthall explains why he has no fear of death, or any of the usual regrets of the dying
Posted on February 5, 2014 by MaryFrances Knapp (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

Death — and the sadness it invokes — lurk in the back of our minds as the inevitable, fearsome couplet of our life’s story. We have a concept of the trajectory of our days: they begin at birth and coast … Continue reading →

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What is Music Thanatology? An Interview with Sharilyn Cohn

Sharilyn Cohn of SacredFlight explains the nature of music thanatology, a form of palliative care that uses harp and voice to aid the terminally ill or dying
Posted on November 30, 2013 by Christopher Hewitt (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

Today, SevenPonds speaks with Music Thanatologist Sharilyn Cohn from SacredFlight, a nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon. She graduated with degrees in Music Performance and Music Education from from the University of Memphis and performed as a professional cellist in Memphis … Continue reading →

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What is Palliative Care at a Veteran Hospital? An Interview with Dr. VJ Periyakoil

The VA Palo Alto Heath Care facility is a pioneer in providing services for Veterans who are dying
Posted on November 2, 2013 by Suzette Sherman (Founder, SevenPonds)

Today, SevenPonds speaks with Dr. VJ Periyakoil, an Associate Director of Palliative Care Service, VA Palo Alto Health Care System. Additionally, she is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine and the Director of Stanford Palliative Care Education and … Continue reading →

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“The Best Care Possible: A Physician’s Quest to Transform Care Through the End of Life” by Ira Byock, M.D.

The palliative care physician explains what it means to provide the best care possible as a doctor to the dying.
Posted on September 27, 2013 by MaryFrances Knapp (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

The Best Care Possible: A Physician’s Quest to Transform Care Through the End of Life is author and doctor Ira Byock, M.D.’s latest opus on end-of-life care. The palliative care physician’s reflections on being a “doctor to the dying” are … Continue reading →

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