This book is written in two forms, one fictional and one instructional, to introduce the reader to what hospice care is all about. First, Gracious Living is the story of Kate, a woman in her 40's, with a diagnosis of terminal cancer, and her relationship with her hospice volunteer, whom she has asked to record the memories from her life. It is a story that takes you inside the lives of both Kate, and her hospice volunteer, as Kate walks toward the end of her life, and attempts to show, from the inside out, what issues and influences really matter at that stage of life. The characters in this book, both patient and volunteer, are products of the author's imagination… although informed by what both patients and volunteers have taught her over thirty years of experience. Secondly, Hospice 101 introduces you to some of the skills and strategies developed over the years for supporting those facing the challenges and struggles of terminal illness. It is written specifically for those who are interested in hospice volunteering, but it offers information that I believe will also be helpful to friends and family members who wish to support those they love who are in the last season of their lives.
