Lessons for the Living

Stan Goldberg was diagnosed with cancer in his mid fifties and instead of turning in on himself he chose to be a Hospice Comfort Care volunteer and spend hundreds of hours caring for people in their last days. This book is the story of Goldberg’s experiences as a bedside Hospice volunteer and the lessons that he learned about living his life and dealing with his cancer from people who were dying. He tells beautiful stories about patients’ final journeys and what comes through most for me is how each of his patients is different and deals with their impending death in their own unique way. The author captures the way each patient faces their death and then relates that back to his own life and draws lessons from the experience. The stories of the patients that he chooses to share are certainly poignant, but not maudlin. We see each dying patient living their best life in those moments as that very life dwindles. Whether it is savoring ice cream or a foot massage, these stories also remind us that the simplest of experiences can lift us up and fulfill us more than the grandest of vacations. Woven through these patient stories is Goldberg’s own journey to acceptance of his cancer and the changes in his life as a result. This book is a book about facing death and the threat of death that has valuable lessons on how to live. This book is also a good way to learn what bedside (in residence) Hospice volunteers do and experience. It is hard work, but also incredibly rewarding for those who choose it and embrace the spirit of Hospice.