Facing Death and Finding Hope
- Doubleday
- 288 pages
Christine Longaker's experience with death and care of the dying began in 1976 when her husband was diagnosed with acute leukemia at the age of 24. Since his death, she has devoted her life to ease the suffering of those facing death. In a clear and compassionate tone, she identifies the typical fears and struggles experienced by the dying and their families. The core of the book is presented in "Four Tasks of Living and Dying," using the Tibetan Buddhist perspective on death to provide a new framework of meaning that can be applied to every type of caregiving setting. These spiritual principles are universal, enabling readers to find resonance within their own religious traditions. Longaker introduces a spiritual understanding of life and death and offers guidance in the face of impossible questions: How can I possibly comfort my friend with incurable cancer when I myself am terrified by death? How do I make peace with a dying parent, sibling or spouse? How do I speak to someone in great pain? Every one of us will face many deaths in our lifetimes, including those of loved ones, and eventually we will confront the challenge of our own passing.Facing Death and Finding Hope will serve as the essential handbook for anyone facing death, helping a loved one, or working in the caregiving field. A book of great depth and grace, it is destined to become a classic in the literature on death and dying.