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“This Year I Will…”
A book about living life to the fullestI spent several years working as a hospice social worker. My team and I spent several touching and even humorous moments with our patients and their families. The saddest times, though, were when clients talked about things they had always wanted to do but had never done. Sometimes we were able to help our clients…
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“Billy Don’t Be a Hero”
Song reflects grief and anger at the loss of a soldier“Billy Don’t Be a Hero,” an anti-war song, premiered in the United Kingdom, where it was performed by the group Paper Lace. In 1974, Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods performed the song in the United States. It shot to the top of the charts for a full two weeks and sold three million records. Most…
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Body Transportation is Less Regulated Than You Might Think
In some states, transportation of bodies only requires a driver’s licenseIf you live in Pennsylvania or New Jersey and own a car, you could start a new career transporting bodies to funeral homes or crematoriums — all it takes is a valid driver’s license. The New York Times points out that in many states there are few, if any, rules governing the transportation of bodies, and…
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Including Children in a Loved One’s Dying Experience
Allowing children to be part of a loved one’s death gives them permission to express their sadness and griefBecause 80 percent of deaths still occur in a hospital or care center, the dying experience becomes less normalized and less inclusive of the entire family. Children are often blocked from visits, even when a loved one is dying at home. Children pick up on signs of distress in adults. If they do not understand…
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Monday Hearts for Madalene
Page Hodel creates beautiful hearts as a tribute to enduring loveIt’s an honor for SevenPonds to share with our readers the story of the Monday Hearts for Madalene project, a true account of the power of love in the midst of death.The project’s origins take us to 2005: the moment Page Hodel encountered Madalene Rodriguez and fell “instantly, dizzyingly in love with her.” The couple’s first meeting was electric,…
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How Do You Create An Alternative To Conventional Palliative Care? (Interview)
An interview with palliative medicine specialist Dr. Michael Fratkin, founder of ResolutionCare, Part OneToday SevenPonds speaks with Dr. Michael Fratkin, palliative medicine specialist and president and founder of ResolutionCare. Birthed by Dr. Fratkin’s desire to expand palliative care beyond the limitations of our country’s broken healthcare system, ResolutionCare is a telemedicine project that uses videoconferencing technology and an interdisciplinary team to provide remote palliative care to patients in need. Ellary: Would…
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Our Weekly Tip: Create An Altar or Meditation Space to Keep Memories Alive
A physical place to remember creates context for groundlessnessOur Tip of the Week: The experience of bereavement (literally, to be torn apart) often comes with a sense of groundlessness — like the rug has been pulled out from under your feet, throwing you into a free-fall where your sense of self and your future seems unstable and uncertain. Creating an altar — also…
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Join Us at the End of Life Resource Fair
Sponsored by the San Francisco Jewish Community CenterThe San Francisco Jewish Community Center is featuring its second annual resource fair dedicated to death and dying, Embracing the Journey: End of Life Resource Fair. The event will be held on Sunday, November 13th from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., so mark your calendars! The fair will feature a wide range of speakers and resources to help…
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