The True Work of Dying: A Practical and Compassionate Guide to Easing the Dying Process

Uniquely experienced as a midwife and hospice nurse, Jan Bernard believes the process of dying mirrors the process of childbirth in the natural life cycle. In The True Work of Dying, she and hospice nurse Miriam Schneider compare what happens to the mind, body, and spirit during birth and death, and reveal fascinating parallels between the two processes. Without denying the accompanying sense of loss and grief, they offer a compelling vision of death as rite of labor for the mysterious release of the soul.
Drawing on the rich and poignant stories of their patients, the authors show us that when the dying and their caregivers commit themselves to the true emotional and spiritual work of dying, healing is virtually inevitable - though it often comes in unexpected forms. The authors' insights offer the hope of families reunited, as well as the inner growth and peace that come from expressing thoughts that have taken a lifetime to share, and from letting go.