Welcome to "Barbara's Excellent Adventure"

Sunday, March 6, 2011

In praise of hospice (email sent 2/15/11)

Barbara has asked me to post onto her blog several emails I've sent to my own list of Barbara 'fans' over the past month. Here's #3 ... Laurel

Barbara and Van have fully embraced hospice care; they have provided her with oxygen, and morphine, as needed. If you want to read something that will help you understand how she is feeling about her current adventure, she highly recommends these resources:

(1) "Letting Go", Atul Gawande, a wonderful article from The New Yorker 8-2-10 issue. Van & Barbara have this on their kitchen table and refer to it often. Among other things, it discusses in detail how hospice care enhances not only the quality but often the duration of one's life.

(2) "Dying Well," Dr. Ira Byock, both the book and the website: http://www.dyingwell.org/

Barbara says, to all those who are asking what you can do & how you can help, "The time is going to come... You're all in my life for a reason; you all have your own specialness." She is closing down her practice, though still having meetings with clients, including today!

Schedule-wise, daughter Betsey is coming for 2 visits in the next month, so that will not be the best time to call or visit:
Betsey and grandkids Joe and Jessie will be here Thurs-Sun Feb 17-20.
Betsey will visit again without the kids March 3-6.

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