Final Journeys: A Practical Guide for Bringing Care and Comfort at the End of Life

Written by hospice nurses, it was helpful to me when my husband was dying of pancreatic cancer. It gives useful information and their stories are very interesting.

This is an outstanding book for anyone supporting a loved one or friend at the end of their life.

If you are faced with death, or caring for someone who is facing death due to terminal illness (me for wife of 26yrs), this book is very helpful. Neither myself nor my partner are religious, so I really, really appreciated the fact that she does not use god(s) as part of the process of dying. The book is focused in its goal and well summarized through its introduction-- how do we die well ? How do we care for people who face death through a terminal illness that is frightening (eg cancer or ALS). In other words, what is a "good death".I think one of my favorite quotes that I often think about is"It is as normal to die as it is to be born. And yet somehow, when a terminal diagnosis is made, there is often a sense of being robbed. But in truth, dying is our last developmental task. When and how we must confront it is the mystery. The fact that we must is not." I like that.... "last developmental task"You can read the first chapter online an that will give you a sense of where she is coming from and her writing style. Of her two books, this is definitely the better, although I found the first one useful as well. But Final Journeys is a little more polished. Same format -- patient vignettes, used to illustrate the point she is making.Death and the meaning of life of course are incredibly personal things seen through the lens of religion and not. But I think there is enough commonality of experience for all. This book does an incredible balancing act across that spectrum that anyone from the pope to Christopher Hitchens will find its content helpful AND well presented.If you are reading this Maggie Callanan, thanks for the help!

What I really liked about this book is that it comes from the perspective of patients and how their families react to Hospice care. My daughter has stage 4 small cell cancer in her lungs and liver. There are moments in this book when you laugh out loud and moments that require a box of tissues. It's interesting and also informative. It has helped me to understand both sides of cancer patients and how many different ways that people cope with a loved one who is dying, when all hope is lost. I come from the perspective of a mother. Her husband comes from another perspective, as to my grandchildren and great grandchildren. It was nice to know that we are all "normal" and not alone with our feelings and how we deal with them. Each of us deals with death I a different way, with one common factor: We're losing someone we love. For us, faith is what we all have in common together. It's not easy and perhaps it's not supposed to be, but it's the glue that holds us together. Yes, my daughter fears death. Not due to the lack of faith, but because she's worried about how we're all going to feel when we lose her. I highly recommend this book!

In her breakthrough book, Final Gifts, hospice nurse Maggie Callanan and co-author Patricia Kelley explored the "nearing death awareness" of last days. That book continues to be for many readers a revelation of what last moments may be like. Final Journeys takes a longer view, becoming a travelers' guide for living from the diagnosis of a terminal illness through to nearing death awareness and on to the last breath.Like the author herself, Final Journeys is intensely practical and straightforward, flashed with humor and warmed by an all-pervasive empathy. A sampling of chapter titles hints of honest looks at difficult questions: "Don't Tell Mom She's Dying. It'll Kill Her!"; "Choosing Treatments--and Knowing Which Are Optional"; "`We Can't Just Let Him Starve to Death!': Deciding About Artificial Nutrition"; "Finding Power in a Powerless Situation"; "I Love You, Mom, and I Want to Help, but I'm Not Moving to Miami!"From recognizing what's fixable and what's not...understanding when not to call 911...talking to the children...dealing with the out-of-town family member who swoops in ready to take charge...to an explanation of the Medicare hospice benefit and the dying person's Bill of Rights--what Callanan does is make the unthinkable manageable.Who is this book for? For everyone who will one day die and wants to be as ready as possible. For anyone who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and for the family members and friends of that person who wonder what to expect and how to cope. For anyone who thinks calling hospice is equivalent to "giving up." For every public library (I have already suggested that my library order two). For hospice and palliative care volunteers.Readers who have been enthusiastic about Final Gifts--and who isn't?--will welcome this companion work, which seems bound to become a classic alongside its sister title.Nancy Evans Bush, MAVice President and Chair of PublicationsInternational Association for Near-Death Studies, Inc.

Good and very helpful if you find yourself in need to support a relative with a terminal illness

Brilliant, sensitively written and hopeful presentation of a subject that is difficult to talk about...a must-read for anyone who is caring for loved ones in the final chapter of their lives. A more practical companion to Callanan's first book Final Gifts.

The book after Final Gifts. Left me immensely comforted after my mothers passing. Takes away the fear of dying as well. You just know after reading this book you will be reunited with your loved ones. Terrific. Highly recommend.

it's great reading. Everybody should read it as everyone meets or faces this process sometime down the raod. the author brings comfort and compassion. I'm not a nurse, but I wish somebody had this handed out to me when I needed. a special friend was confronted with his wife's loss lately and, at loss of words or actions for that matter, I did some reseach. before pass it on, I read it and I found myself learning lots. well done!

Learned so many important things right as I was going through the toughest loss. Wish I had read it earlier