If There's Anything I Can Do...What You Can Do When Serious Illness Strikes
A down to earth and eminently practical guide for anyone affected by serious illness I wish I had had this resource when I served as a hospice chaplain. Think of this book as a bird sitting on your shoulder, reminding you to pay attention to what the patient and family say (and do not say), to listen deeply to your own responses, and to act in the most helpful and loving ways possible. --The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal ChurchMany of us, and, in fact, almost all women, will be family caregivers to loved ones experiencing serious illness and needing care at the end of life. Yet, as a society, we provide almost no physical, emotional, financial or spiritual support for those who do this vital work. Josephine Hicks wonderful little book, If There s Anything I Can Do...What You Can Do when Serious Illness Strikes, is born out of lived experience of loving care giving for her partner as she journeyed through the end of life. It contains wonderful gems of wisdom and practical tips for all of us to learn and heed as we attempt to support caregivers. I particularly loved her lessons learned summaries at the end of each chapter, especially in the chapter If You Are Inclined To Say This, Don t . Josephine is a fountain of short, pithy pearls of wisdom and advice for those of us who often so inadequately attempt to find words and deeds to support our friends and family who are doing the work of care giving. I highly recommend it. --Dr. Richard Payne, Director, Duke University Institute on Care at the End of LifeAs a hospital chaplain, I daily encounter patients and caregivers walking the difficult journey of serious illness. Often, patients and caregivers are in desperate need of support, but are too overwhelmed to articulate their needs, and friends who long to help do not know what words or actions will be helpful. If There s Anything I Can Do is an ideal guide; honest, clear and heartfelt, it offers practical ways to give and receive love and support amidst the confusion and pain that serious illness brings. A must read for patients, their caregivers and the friends and family who love them. This practical, experience-based book is just what is needed when patients and caregivers wonder: what do I need?; and when their friends ask: how can I help? --The Rev Elizabeth Welch, Sojourn Chaplaincy at San Francisco General HospitalMany of us, and, in fact, almost all women, will be family caregivers to loved ones experiencing serious illness and needing care at the end of life. Yet, as a society, we provide almost no physical, emotional, financial or spiritual support for those who do this vital work. Josephine Hicks wonderful little book, If There s Anything I Can Do...What You Can Do when Serious Illness Strikes, is born out of lived experience of loving care giving for her partner as she journeyed through the end of life. It contains wonderful gems of wisdom and practical tips for all of us to learn and heed as we attempt to support caregivers. I particularly loved her lessons learned summaries at the end of each chapter, especially in the chapter If You Are Inclined To Say This, Don t . Josephine is a fountain of short, pithy pearls of wisdom and advice for those of us who often so inadequately attempt to find words and deeds to support our friends and family who are doing the work of care giving. I highly recommend it. --Dr. Richard Payne, Director, Duke University Institute on Care at the End of LifeAs a hospital chaplain, I daily encounter patients and caregivers walking the difficult journey of serious illness. Often, patients and caregivers are in desperate need of support, but are too overwhelmed to articulate their needs, and friends who long to help do not know what words or actions will be helpful. If There s Anything I Can Do is an ideal guide; honest, clear and heartfelt, it offers practical ways to give and receive love and support amidst the confusion and pain that serious illness brings. A must read for patients, their caregivers and the friends and family who love them. This practical, experience-based book is just what is needed when patients and caregivers wonder: what do I need?; and when their friends ask: how can I help? --The Rev Elizabeth Welch, Sojourn Chaplaincy at San Francisco General Hospital