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In A Palliative Care Nursing Home
A cranky old man dies and his legend goes viral.This is a poem that has gone viral. It’s suppose to be a true story. Either way it’s a poem to share and who can resist a good yarn. An old man died in a palliative care nursing home in a small town in Australia. He left nothing of value. When the palliative care nurse…
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“Parta Quies”
A.E. Housman puts his own unique spin on an old conceptI took an introductory Latin course in college (yes, I am a complete nerd), and was therefore able to recognize the grammar of the phrase “Parta Quies,” an A.E. Housman poem, when I saw it; however, I wasn’t exactly sure what it meant. A quick entry into Google Translate (and several other searches, to check…
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American Kills — War and Suicide
The installation art of Sebastian Errazuriz takes on another big issue of life and deathThe work of designer Sebastian Errazuriz addresses the big issues of life and death, sometimes with a whimsical and charming style, and sometimes with an elegance and simplicity, always posing powerful questions for the observer. This recent installation, American Kills, is a public showcase of the suicide rates of U.S. soldiers. Errazuriz accidentally found information…
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How to Cope with a Terminal Illness? (Interview)
A longtime oncologist shares his thoughts on coping with a terminal condition and dying a “good death”Doctor Michael Engelberg is an oncologist of 40 years, based at Cedars-Sinai medical center in Los Angeles, California. Aurora: Let’s say I’ve just been diagnosed with cancer, or another terminal illness. What should my first steps be? Dr. Engelberg: I think what people do in that situation is gather a support team from their family…
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My Mother, Your Mother
A thorough book looking at the step-by-step process for the care of elder parentsMy mother always told me, “When I get old, put me on an iceberg and leave me for the polar bears.” I never once took her advice seriously, but after reading Dr. McCullough’s book, I’m starting to reconsider. All joking aside, losing one’s mother is one of the greatest human fears. Growing up, we never…
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Get Informed: Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment
POLST puts end-of-life healthcare directive decisions back in the patient’s hands.We’ve often visited on this blog the importance of Advanced Care Directives to ensure that patients are fully educated and empowered to make end-of-life healthcare decisions. Throughout the years, as the implications of orders like “Do Not Resuscitate” have confused and disturbed patients and families, our language and perception of these decisions is morphing. In…
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“Misery”
Discussing the isolation in Anton Chekhov’s “Misery”Last week I wrote about the shock that follows hearing of a death. This week I’m analyzing the short story “Misery,” by Anton Chekhov, and its title leaves no doubt about what the tale involves. The narrative follows Iona Potapov, a sledge-driver whose son has just died. Potapov is naturally heartbroken, and wants nothing more…
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A Beach Heart for Madeline
A glorious memorial to honor the loss of a loved oneThis summer, Bay Area artist Page Hodel brought together family, friends, and fans of her Monday Hearts for Madalene to craft a heart from the most sympathetic medium she could find: humans. Dozens gathered at this beach on the Pacific Ocean a few miles down the coast from Pacifica, California for a flash mob to…
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