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Dementia and Redefining Quality of Life
A mother-daughter journey into the unknownThe idea of dementia or dependence appalled my mother. For many years, she declared, “If I ever get Alzheimer’s, take me out and shoot me!” Her definition of quality of life was firmly grounded in her ability to think and live independently. Time has forced many changes, including that definition. After the death of her…
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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 enduring love.The project began in 2005, when Page Hodel first met Madalene Rodriguez and fell “instantly, dizzyingly in love with her.” Soon afterwards, Page began leaving handmade hearts on…
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How Important is Touch at the Bedside of the Dying? (Interview)
An interview with Everflowing director and educator Irene Smith, Part OneToday SevenPonds speaks with Irene Smith, founder and director of Everflowing, an educational program centered around creating a more supportive environment for hospice patients and their healthcare providers. Smith has three decades of experience as an educator and practitioner, focusing primarily on the benefits of touch at the end of life. As an author, she has…
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“Snow Day”
A heartwarming documentary that offers valuable lessons about living well at any age“Snow Day” is a heartwarming and visually gorgeous documentary about “life, death and skiing.” Set against the backdrop of the Colorado Rockies, it’s a deceptively simple, one-hour film about a group of aging friends who travel weekly to a nearby ski resort to do what they love best — ski. But beneath the surface, it’s…
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“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”
The near loss of a son inspires a song of hopeGrieving 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, had burned to death in a tragic accident. He had tried to put the fire…
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Pollution Linked to 9 Million Deaths in 2015, Study Shows
Air pollution contributed to the most deaths, followed by water and job-related pollutionA new report released by The Lancet has linked pollution of all kinds to roughly 9 million deaths in 2015. This equates to about 16 percent of total deaths worldwide, with air pollution contributing to the most deaths (6.5 million). Water (1.8 million) and workplace-related (0.8 million) pollution ranked second and third for causes of…
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“On the Death of Anne Bronte”
The loss of a sister inspires poetryIn England in the 1840s, one of the most revered literary families was the Bronte sisters, Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte and Anne Bronte. The parents, Patrick and Maria, had five girls and one boy. Their mother died while all the children were young. The oldest two sisters, Maria and Elizabeth, died of tuberculosis after an…
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Monday Hearts for Madalene
Page Hodel creates beautiful hearts as a tribute to enduring love.It’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 enduring love.The project began in 2005, when Page Hodel first met Madalene Rodriguez and fell “instantly, dizzyingly in love with her.” Soon afterwards, Page began leaving handmade hearts on…
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