I entered the picture in the eleventh hour as a guide to the exit of his life. I navigated as best I could the role of end-of-life shepherd—a journey that I had never taken before. Furthermore, I have to forgive myself for what I did not know. And I have to forgive him for the times that he felt unequipped to deal with the unknown.

— Lisa J. Shultz

If the push towards life sustaining technology were balanced with options for comfort care in both medical school training and the healthcare culture, more people would have the chance to transition to death with dignity and grace.

— Lisa J. Shultz

It behooves me to remember as I advance in age that death is an inevitable part of the life cycle rather than a medical failure.

— Lisa J. Shultz

My dad’s life was magnificent, but only if I let myself see and remember more than his years of decline.

— Lisa J. Shultz

Surrendering to the best of my abilities when the price of life has outweighed its benefit may be a compassionate choice for me and those around me.

— Lisa J. Shultz

The shift from thinking that I must feel forgiveness to the practice of repetitive giving forgiveness has helped me in my healing journey.

— Lisa J. Shultz

What would I have wanted to say if I had had the opportunity to see him one more time? I would like to think that I would have kept it simple and said, “I love you,” then just held his hand in silence, letting that thought linger in the space of the time we had left together.

— Lisa J. Shultz

When I contemplate life as well as death, I am discovering what really matters to me now.

— Lisa J. Shultz

When I reflect on the stories of death supported by hospice care and contrast it with our story depicting an absence of support, I find myself dealing with envy and anger. I have channeled those emotions into this book with the hope that hearing our story might give someone else a chance to create a better ending to the life of a loved one.

— Lisa J. Shultz

Without guidance and support for patients and families approaching death, there may be unnecessary conflict, confusion, and trauma that linger long after the passing of a loved one.

— Lisa J. Shultz