Checking In With Deanna

This week, we check back in with former guest and irrepressible force Deanna! A few weeks back, we drove up to Casper, WY to meet in person for the first time. And during our lovely visit, we all decided it was time for a public update on Deanna, who was diagnosed with ALS at the start of 2024. 

Deanna has moved to in-patient hospice in recent months and, along with her husband Oren, wanted to share her experience with us and the world. Her take on the emotional and physical benefits of in-patient hospice is truly eye-opening.

Deanna, her friends, and her family are incredibly grateful that hospice allows her friends and family to—in a phrase we heard repeatedly—just love on her. Not physically care for her. Not worry about her meds. Not be on call to handle all of the challenging aspects of end-of-life care. Just...love on her. 

Unbeknownst to Deanna, we also had a special surprise for her waiting in the wings. Highly recommend watching at least THAT on video. It’s wonderful.

Please check out Deanna's book "Embracing the End: Discovering Peace and Purpose At the End of Life" now available for sale on Amazon. It's a great, hilarious, and heart-lifting read. Because of course it is. 

And for no particular reason, we’d like to remind you that our good friend @HospiceNurseJulie has a new journal version of her book “Nothing to Fear: Demystifying Death to Live More Fully” coming out in June: “The Nothing to Fear Journal: Questions and Reflections for Demystifying and Preparing for the End of Life"! So be sure to pre-order. It sounds like it’s going to be amazing and helpful for any of us.

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Music featured in this episode:
“What Floor” by idokay
”Sopro Mar” by Feu Marinho

>>Theme Music by Michael Shynes, "The Other Side"<<