A Practical Guide for Bringing Care and Comfort at the End of Life

Maggie Callanan, along with Patricia Kelley, wrote “Final Gifts”, a groundbreaking book about how people die. “Final Journeys” is a companion book and focuses on the care giver’s role and how they can best help the dying and take care of themselves at the same time. She explains how entering hospice care is not ‘giving up’, what paperwork the dying (which is all of us, really) should have completed to make things easier for themselves and their loved ones, that it’s okay for the dying and the family to laugh and joke, and why you shouldn’t call 911 if the person does not want aggressive resuscitation.
Callanan is a veteran hospice nurse with 27 years of experience working with the dying at the time she wrote this book. She’s helped innumerable families as a member passes on, and has seen all sorts of scenarios. In this book, she answers a lot of the questions that people have about giving care to a family member facing death. She doesn’t just dwell on the dying person, but on what the care giver experiences; how different people react to the impending death of a loved one; how they grieve; and various options for end of life care. The book is written in an easy to read style, even when dealing with medical details. I’m not a stranger to caregiving and dealing with death and I learned a lot from this book, especially about family dynamics.

Readers familiar with Maggie Callanan's first book--Final Gifts--will welcome this "sequel": a book that is similar in some ways, very different in other ways, from that earlier volume. Like Final Gifts, this book deals with issues around death and dying; like that earlier volume, Final Journeys is largely a book of stories, based on Callanan's extensive experience as a hospice/palliative care nurse.

The difference between the two books has to do with the far more extensive material covered in this second volume. Whereas Final Gifts deals exclusively with the area of "nearing death awareness", Final Journeys covers the full spectrum of issues that are an inevitable part of the human experience of death and dying. The word "practical" in the book's subtitle is an accurate reflection of the book's contents; the book's anecdotes, and Callanan's commentary, address all of the issues that face the dying and those who are caring for/in relationship with those who are dying. And while the book is written from the perspective of someone who genuinely believes in the life of a world beyond this world, I believe this book will be useful even to those who do not share that belief.

Given our tendency to live in denial of death, coupled with the stark fact that we and each of our loved ones will one day die, this is one volume that can rightly claim shelf-space as part of every family's reference library. Highly recommended

Unlike another book I read, "Being with Dying" this book offered a volume full of excellent information, from legal to practical, to spiritual and physical. I was uninitiated in the dying process when my close friend became ill and died. Because of this book and several others, which give first person details of the experience, I was far more prepared in many ways than I might otherwise have been.

Maggie's first book, co-written with Patricia Kelley, was "Final Gifts."
The book was a shocker in the sense that it opened up the subject of death
and dying as never before, introducing all of us to the special language
dying people use and how to understand it. Both women are hospice nurses.
Their material is authentic, and funny, and heart-renching, and oh so
necessary for all of us to know. Every family. Every physician and nurse.
Every chaplain and pastor and minister and rabbi and cleric. . . everyone
needs to read "Final Gifts" if you haven't already.

And, you also need to read "Final Journeys." Yup, Maggie went out on her
own and created a treasure so masterful in its stories and support and aid
that it gives, that it will hold you glued to every page. "Final Journeys"
distills everything Maggie learned since 1981 as a hospice nurse, and much
more. I say that because she is not the type of hospice nurse you might
expect. I've known her for a very long time, and I can say without
hesitation that Maggie Callanan is one of the most perceptive, intuitive,
totally professional and focused, yet lovingly caring individuals I have
ever met or heard of when it comes to the dying process. Inspired by her
father's last words to her before he died, she has opened up the field even
wider than before, and done so with so much tenderness and knowingness that
she holds you in awe. Why can't we talk about dying? Why can't others hear
our wishes, our stories, our longings, our dreams, our druthers? She brings
us HOME, as only a firm but funny, loving angel can. Don't just get a copy
of this book for yourself. Spread it around. PMH

When dealing with end-of-life issues, many people have found Maggie Callanan's (co-authored) book, Final Gifts, to be both comforting and inspirational. She has now followed up with its "prequel," Final Journeys. As before, Callanan combines a wealth of practical experience in Hospice nursing with her own remarkable blend of compassion and humor. Anyone who faces the passing of a loved one really must read this book; anyone consciously facing their own passing will hope that Callanan - or her clone! - can attend them at the end.

One of the most useful aspects is her description of symptoms of the end of life that are typical, yet which we might not recognize and respect for what they are. As the author makes clear, there is no one path for the final journey, and it behooves those nearby to recognize and respect the style of their loved one. For example, in an attempt to "be there for them" it is possible to tire the patient with too much attention, as they are attempting to rest and "wind down." Equally, it is necessary to recognize when they may need to see a certain person in order to accomplish the task of closure and resolving "unfinished business" with that person. It is necessary to listen closely to the patient without one's preconceived notions intervening. Spiritual, dietary, and companionship needs vary widely depending on the patient; it's truly not "one size fits all."

Callanan defines a problem that I and perhaps many of us have experienced: the feeling that your loved ones will find it terribly sad, almost impossible, to go on with their lives without us when we die. Apparently in many cases, one important task of the caregivers is to give the patient permission to go, assuring them that we will be all right afterwards, while acknowledging the closeness of the bond between us.

Callanan is so remarkable in her ability to convey her experiences and feelings through stories that you will be completely engaged throughout this book with a renewed appreciation of her humanistic approach to nursing. Her caring approach to both the patient and the family rescues some potentially explosive situations with people you come to care about through her descriptions. And if you can read Chapter 35 without shedding a few tears, you really need to have your DNA checked out to make sure you're really human!

This practical look at healing care through the eyes of a nurse enables the reader to experience the heart of care and the art of care. You will be able to envision an aspect of nursing care seldom shared with others in the general public. We all know the value of a good nurse, but to get a look into their soul will make you realize just how important their work really is.

Another Path into Healing
The Path into Healing

This book was an incredible inspiration and resource to me as I was caring for my mother in her final stages of life. I remember when I was reading it I had hoped that I too would find a Maggie. And I did. She was wonderful. I will always remember two things from the book ... "One patient per house" and remembering to honor what the patient wants for themselves ... not what you want for them that matters in the end. I am so glad that I read this book. I highly recommend it.

An outstanding source of information and support for the elderly, their caregivers, and family members ... what to expect and how to cope physically and emotionally at every stage of dying. There's also lots of practical information about advance directives, benefits, and resources. In my aunt's final years, I benefitted from neighbor and hospice nurse Maggie Callanan's personal guidance. Now her book is available to help everyone. I highly recommend it.

Along with her first book, "Final Gifts", this latest work is required reading for anyone - and there are many, many of us out there - facing the issue of elder-care and the loss of a partner or loved one. There is a certain sensitivity in "Final Journeys" that is important and based on the author's years of work as a nurse in Hospice. Important book to read.

Should be required reading for everyone. Ms. Callanan offers us a new perspective during what can be the most difficult periods of our life. Her insight, humor and wisdom are a blessing. I've bought this book for friends and family dealing with a terminally ill family member and it has helped them immensely.

This book shares the stories of many people in their final days. It is akin to peeping in on people during personal moments. I can see where it might be useful to thoughtful home health workers. If your choice is between Ms Callanan's "Final Gifts" and "Final Journeys," I would choose "Final Gifts."