Review: THE IN-BETWEEN: UNFORGETTABLE ENCOUNTERS DURING LIFE'S FINAL MOMENTS

Title: The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life's Final Moments by Hadley Vlahos, R.N.

Book Beginning quote: 

People are often startled when I tell them I'm a hospice nurse.

Friday56 quote:

I have cared for enough end-of-life patients with varying religious backgrounds to believe that how you live your life is more important than what you believe in.

Summary:

Talking about death and dying is considered taboo in polite company, and even in the medical field. Our ideas about dying are confusing at Will our memories flash before our eyes? Regrets consume our thoughts? Does a bright light appear at the end of a tunnel? For most people, it will be a slower process, one eased with preparedness, good humor, and a bit of faith. At the forefront of changing attitudes around palliative care is hospice nurse Hadley Vlahos, who shows that end-of-life care can teach us just as much about how to live as it does about how we die.

In The In-Between, Vlahos recounts the most impactful experiences she’s had with the people she’s worked with—from the woman who never once questioned her faith until she was close to death, to the older man seeing visions of his late daughter, to the young patient who laments that she spent too much of her short life worrying about what others thought of her—while also sharing her own fascinating journey. Written with profound insight, humility, and respect, The In-Between is a heartrending memoir that shows how caring for others can transform a life while also offering wisdom and comfort for those dealing with loss and providing inspiration for how to live now. (Publisher)

Review: The timing was impeccable. Right after I finished this excellent memoir I had two different encounters with death and with hospice care. I was grateful for what I learned from Hadley Vlahos. She read her own book for the audio version, which was a bit distracting -- sometimes people should leave the voice acting to professionals -- but other than that I highly recommend this book.

2024 Twenty Books of Summer Challenge

14 / 20 books. 70% done!

-Anne