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“If I Carry My Father”
A poet considers how the best parts of her father might live on through her beingI hope it is a little morethan color of hairor the dimple or cheekbonesif he’s ever here in the space I inhabitthe room I walk inthe boundaries and peripheriesI hope it’s some kindness he believed inliving on in cell or bonemaybe some word or actionwill float close to the surfacewithin my reachsome good will rise…
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Our Monthly Tip: Create a Wall of Flowers as a Stunning Backdrop for a Memorial Service
Fresh flowers make a gorgeous backdrop for a eulogy or memorial celebrationOur Tip of the Month If you’re planning a memorial service for your loved one during the cold weather months, you can bring an outdoor vibe to the setting by adding a solid wall of flowers to brighten up the room. If you have the budget and the time available, you can hire an event…
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“Gone From My Sight”
The “Little Blue Book” that has served as a staple for hospice providers for over 30 yearsBarbara Karnes, R.N., is an award-winning hospice educator and author who has been working to demystify the dying experience for patients and families for over 30 years. After serving at the bedside of hundreds of patients throughout her nursing career, she has an uncanny grasp of how people die. In her short book, “Gone From…
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Cremation’s Going Digital (Interview)
A former ad exec is looking to disrupt the traditional cremation process by making cremation and remains delivery direct to consumerCremation is seeing a digital transformation behind the imagination of a former New York ad exec. J.G. Sandom spent almost 40 years in the advertising business before he started his latest venture, Cremstar, in 2014. He founded one of the first digital ad agencies, Einstein and Sandom Interactive, in 1984, and got elbow-deep in the…
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Watching Gladys Disappear –The Pain of Ambiguous Loss
Watching my friend of 30 years disappear into the fog of Alzheimer’s disease is like no pain I’ve even knownThis is Melissa’s story as told by her. Our “Opening Our Hearts” stories are based on people’s real-life experiences. By sharing these experiences publicly, we hope to help our readers feel less alone in their grief and, ultimately, to aid them in their healing process. In this story, Melissa talks about her friend and fellow…
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Expanded Aid-In-Dying Laws in North America Stir New (and Old) Debate
Political will and public support for aid in dying is growing, but not without conflictTerminally ill patients looking to choose when to die in New Mexico saw a welcome change this June. The Elizabeth Whitefield End-of-Life Options Act took effect on June 18 after the state legislature passed the act earlier this spring. New Mexico joins a growing contingent of nine states in the U.S. that added pathways for…
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“Death Bed”
A lo-fi hip hop song about not wanting to let go of life just yet.After browsing SoundCloud for new beats, lo-fi hip hop artist Powfu (a.k.a. Isaiah Faber) came across Beabadoobee’s “Coffee.” This chill music inspired Powfu to write a song about someone who’s on their deathbed, but is longing to stay with his love. He’s afraid about what will happen here on earth once he passes on. Yeah,…
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Alzheimer’s Research on Mice is Often Misleading
Reports of advances in Alzheimer’s research often fail to indicate that it was conducted on mice, not humansScrolling through the headlines, it’s easy to come away with the impression that there are major breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s research happening near-daily. Yet as a recent paper in PLOS Biology points out, such headlines are often misleading. Much of this research was conducted on mice, with no indication that it could lead to similar gains…
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Survivors Create National COVID Memorial Wall in the UK
Bereaved families come together to remember their loved onesA collection of bereaved families met in London in March 2021 to commemorate the loss of their loved ones to COVID-19. These grieving volunteers created a National COVID memorial wall along the South Bank of the River Thames. This artistic tribute spans a third of a mile and is comprised of red and pink hearts…
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“7 Ways to Create an Amazing Celebration of Life”
