It Is What It Is

It Is What It Is gives us an inside look at hospice care through the eyes of a volunteer who has worked for the last seven years at a hospice house. Featuring the artwork of Canadian artist Francine Gravel, the stories of hospice residents are beautifully interspersed with poems and quotes.

"We all know that we have to go one day and leave everything we love and treasure behind. It is not easy to accept that the world will go on and we will no longer be part of it. But remember. . .we are responsible for how we want to live our lives and it is also up to us to determine how we want to die. I believe that we live a much happier and more meaningful life when we make death our friend.

"The stories and poems I have collected provide comfort as we prepare for our last journey, the greatest adventure, and perhaps the only really new thing that will happen to us. The stories in this book are real. Every death is unique. There can be so much beauty in dying, we only need to be open to seeing and feeling it." - Ute Freitag

It Is What It Is is written for families, patients, caregivers, volunteers, hospice houses, medical personnel and all those facing death one day (everyone). For those working with the dying or those who are now at this stage in their lives, It Is What It Is is a heartfelt and meaningful resource.

"It is very beautiful over here."- Thomas Edison, on his deathbed

Ute Freitag was born in Kiel, Northern Germany. Being raised in post-war Germany had a profound influence on her life. By the age of 17, she was vocal in politics by sharing her views onstage in political cabarets.

Ute and her husband Ekhard lived for several years in England and have spent the last 14 years dividing their time between British Columbia, Canada and Big Island, Hawaii, where she finds the peace and quiet to write.

Inspired by her friends in Germany, England and Canada, who donate their time and resources to charitable causes, Ute organizes events for artists, musicians and children in need. Seven years ago, she and her husband began volunteering with their local Hospice Association and from then on, it developed naturally into writing about living and dying.