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“Everybody Hurts”
Song for funeral or memorial brings mourners togetherThe experience of grief can include rapidly fluctuating, intense feelings such as depression, hopelessness, anger, apathy, frustration, and fear. For many of us, it will be the closest we come to feeling totally, completely unhinged, groundless, and alien to the whole world, including ourselves. R.E.M.’s song “Everybody Hurts” opens, When your day is long and the…
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Types of Death and Altered Levels of Consciousness
SevenPonds explains cellular death, coma, persistent vegetative state, brain death and cardiac deathThere are many ways that the body — or parts of the body — can die. Some are caused by illness or injury, and others are just natural ways in which the body develops and changes over time. Additionally, changes in organ function may lead to altered levels of consciousness. Some of these are reversible,…
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Monday Hearts for Madalene
Page Hodel creates beautiful hearts as an ongoing celebration of 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…
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Understanding Swallowing Difficulties at the End of Life
Maximize comfort and control when the ability to swallow diminishesDifficulty in swallowing is called dysphagia, and can be frightening for the person and the caregiver. The ability to swallow can change over time, especially in those with dementia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and those nearing death. Understanding the cause and the benefit and burden of interventions is important for comfort and safety. Can you imagine waking…
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Qatar World Cup Memorial Commemorates Migrant Worker Deaths
Memorial architecture lends massive presence to hundreds of silenced mournersThe proposed Qatar World Cup Memorial project was designed by French architects Axel de Stampa and Sylvain Macaux, who founded the 1Week1Project collective. 1Week1Project comprises approximately 25 designs that are primarily speculative in nature, meant to serve as social commentary. The Qatar World Cup Memorial was inspired by a report by the Guardian, which said…
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How Do I Memorialize a Loved One with Jewelry? (Interview)
An expert talks about making diamonds from a loved one’s hair or ashesToday, SevenPonds speaks with Claire McHan, operations manager and support manager for Heart In Diamond, a company that specializes in making diamonds out of loved one’s hair or ashes and converting them into beautiful pieces of jewelry that serve as memorials for those who have died. From her Georgia home, McHan speaks with families about their…
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Our Weekly Tip: Send Your Loved Ones Ashes Up To The Sky In a Biodegradable Balloon
Florida based company Eternal Ascent Society provides a unique memorial serviceOur Tip of The Week: “I don’t care what you do with me — just have me cremated and send me up in a balloon,” said Clyde to his wife Joanie as they sat around the gift balloon shop they run, chatting with family about their last wishes. Out of this conversation, the Eternal Ascent Society…
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“A Certain Kind of Death”
A documentary explores the hidden world of unclaimed bodiesWhat happens when someone dies, and no one is around to claim the body? Directors Grover Babcock and Blue Hadaegh answer this question in their documentary “A Certain Kind of Death.” They walk us through a day in the life of those who handle these bodies, taking a clinical, step-by-step approach. Warning: This film contains…
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