Palliative Care: A Different Kind of Hope

Palliative medicine is one of the greatest gifts we have to offer folks at the end of their life or during the chronic phases of illness. Patrick J. Macmillan, M.D., conveys that message loud and clear in this book featuring sixteen poignant stories of patients who found themselves at the end of life. Chaplains, nurses, social workers, and others play an important role in each tale. You’ll meet Grace, who wanted to keep fighting even though she had pancreatic cancer. Her family wanted her to keep battling as much as she did, but eventually she had to tell them that she didn’t want any more interventions. While doctors were unable to save her life in the conventional sense, they helped her spend her final days at home with loved ones. She is just one of many brave souls who have fought the good fight but eventually realized that surrendering to death offered their best hope at living with dignity.