I’m so thankful to all the patients and families who let me into their lives, whether for a year or for ten minutes. I have loved every one of you, and my hope is that it shows in these pages. I will always be grateful.
It’s an honor to have worked with some of the best chaplains, nurses, aides, social workers, doctors, and volunteer coordinators I’ve ever met. Thank you to all of you for teaching me how to work with people at the end of their lives, and for the unfailing support you’ve shared at difficult times and with heartbreaking cases. One of the best parts of working in hospice is getting to work with other people who work in hospice. Thank you.
If you had told me ten years ago that I would ever write another book, I would have laughed. There’s no way to fully express my gratitude to Bernie Vaccaro and Tziporah Cohen for helping me get better.
So many people helped me with this book, and in so many ways. My deepest thanks to all of you, and especially Becky Saletan, Marly Rusoff, Katie Freeman, Claire McGinnis, Ben Denzer (that cover!), Michelle Koufopoulos, the entire staff of Aspen Words, Isa Catto Shaw, Daniel Shaw, Chrysti Shain, Mary Egan, Kristin Egan, Kit McIntyre, Kristin Miles, Colette Sartor, and Tricia Escobedo.
And finally, thank you to my husband, Alex Ruskell, and my children. I couldn’t have written this book without you, and I wrote it for you.