“If Only, but for one more moment…” is the author’s very personal, heartwarming and compassionate account of the emotions, interactions and caring for her terminally ill parents following their latter stage terminal cancer diagnosis.  This is a unique book both in it’s “story format” and content, and is a very moving read in itself. It is written in such a way that it is like sitting down with a friend and being immersed while hearing about their personal story with terminally ill loved ones. There is an abundance of helpful information for you and your families when it is time for your own loved ones journey ahead.                                              

Some will read “If Only, but for one more moment….”  for comfort and guidance while hearing about one woman’s journey helping to care for her terminally ill loved ones;  some will read it as they have elderly loved ones in long term care or still in their own homes;  and yet others may read it simply as a short novel for a very real and heartfelt journey of love.

If you or someone you know is dealing with a loved ones latter stage terminal diagnosis and are looking for a book about someone’s personal account with words that will help, encourage, and inform you on a multitude of issues on what may lay ahead, and possible services available, this is a book you will want to read!

Or, if you are looking for a poignant and inspirational read on a very real stage of life, this book will touch you deeply.

Why did I write this book?

While I am generally a very private person I have an important story to share, with substantial “first-hand” information that was written especially for others dealing with a loved ones latter stage terminal diagnosis. And it was written to bring awareness to others of the wonderful services available for your loved one, at no cost, most notably through CCAC (Community Care Access Centre),  Hospice,  and Palliative Care Physicians as well as other possible health organizations that may be within your community.

There will come a time in all of our lives when we are touched so deeply and have such sadness in our hearts with the failing health of a loved one. Yet despite it being such an overwhelmingly devastating time you will instinctively want to reach out and give aid and comfort to your loved one as best as you can for their final months, weeks and days. This is part of palliative care (term used for end of life care and for those with a life threatening illness).

I wrote this to help others following their own loved ones latter stage terminal diagnosis. To read of another’s personal first hand account with a terminally ill loved one will help enormously in preparing you for your own journey ahead. You will be enriched with an abundance of snippets of advice and a “heads up” on potential issues, both large and small — all invaluable to help you to prepare. You are not alone!

How will this book help you?

My story encapsulates my personal journey with my parents, both the uplifting and the heartbreaking, following their respective latter stage terminal cancer diagnosis.

Within the story in itself, a multitude of pertinent and valuable information can be found —- insight, tips, words of encouragement and guidance throughout that may be very useful in preparing and guiding you in caring for your terminally ill loved one. There is very real and personal insight into some of the physical, emotional and spiritual issues associated with terminal illness that is so helpful to know beforehand

When you come upon my last words and put my book down upon the table, I hope that I will have accomplished my goal of:   giving you some real insight into some of the emotions and interactions while caring for a terminally ill loved one;   an understanding of some of the compassionate care and comfort (palliative) for end of life care (or for those with a life threatening illness);   and encouragement that you can indeed handle what may come for your journey ahead.

Know that “laughter with a loved one, no matter what age or state of health, is pure magic for the soul”.

Be aware of the possible palliative and homecare services that may be available for the care and comfort of your terminally ill loved ones, at no cost to them, through Hospice, CCAC (Community Care Access Centre),  Palliative Care doctors, or other health organizations in your community. More on these services are talked about in my book.

How difficult was it to write this book?

This was an exceptionally difficult book for me to write —  not only because of the obvious personal and emotional element but also in ensuring that I preserved the integrity of my parents privacy. And it was a challenge to ensure I kept my book condensed so as to be a quicker, easy and engaging read, while still maintaining an abundance of pertinent and helpful information for others — hence the concept of a “story” format was born.  I feel I was able to strike that balance between informative content to help others while still maintaining privacy to a large degree.

What helped enormously was that I had spoken with my father while I was caring for him about possibly writing a book about in-home palliative care in the future. Up to that point in my life I was not really aware of what palliative care was, at home or otherwise. I was so impressed with the process and the organizations involved, and felt an overwhelming need for people to be aware of services available to help terminally ill loved ones remain in their own homes for as long as possible with care and comfort, and for families to hear about what this might entail. No one should ever have to go through this alone! This book may also help families in their quest to find out more about some care options, and towards enabling people to make a more informed decision in this regard.

Had I not spoken about this with my father at that time, I doubt if this book would ever have been written.

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****Message I received about my book from Dr. Jeff Myers,  Head  of the Palliative Care Consult Team at Odette Cancer Centre,  Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto:

“”Hi Susanne – so the craziness of April and May finally passed and I was able to curl up on the couch last weekend and without distraction read your book. I must tell you, the details of the story and the images created are truly magnificent in their honesty. Despite having done this work for the last 15 years, I learned so much from your words as it was such a tremendous perspective that is rarely shared. I have strongly recommended to our Patient Education Manager to have a copy of the book made available to our patients and families within the PEARL (Pt Education Resource Centre) and she is very pleased to do so.Thank you for sharing this story, for allowing me to read it and for the many caregivers whose experience will be impacted in some way after having read it themselves. Nothing in life prepares one for the kind of experience so eloquently recounted and it will no doubt offer reassurance and a sense of “not being alone in this” to many.

With great respect…Jeff””

Jeff Myers MD, CCFP, MSEd
Head – Palliative Care Consult Team
Co-Program Head – Patient and Family Support Program
Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
W. Gifford-Jones Professorship in Pain and Palliative Care
Head and Associate Professor – Division of Palliative Care,
Department of Family and Community Medicine
Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto

      “Click to Look Inside” my book at The Kindle Store http://www.amazon.com/Only-More-Moment-In-pallitive-   ebook/dp/B007MAD15M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1349966674&sr=1-1&keywords=if+only+but+for+one+more+moment

***SEVERAL HOSPICE’S HAVE PURCHASED COPIES OF MY BOOK FOR THEIR CLIENTS AND RESOURCE LIBRARY.

***SUNNYBROOK HOSPITAL’S ODETTE CANCER CENTRE IS CARRYING MY BOOK TO BE AVAILABLE ON LOAN FOR PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. 

 TO BUY “If Only, but for one more moment…” click on the applicable spot on the left sidebar, or contact me for discount prices on bulk orders.

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3.)  The Kindle Store.  **You can “Click to Look Inside” my book here:    http://www.amazon.com/Only-More-Moment-In-pallitive-ebook/dp/B007MAD15M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1349966674&sr=1-1&keywords=if+only+but+for+one+more+moment

BOOK ALSO AVAILABLE at:   Online at:   Amazon.ca; Amazon.com; Chapters.Indigo.ca;  and it is at the Oshawa Public Library

**Please note: Signed copies can only be sent out when they are purchased directly from my website through Paypal, Cheque or Money order, unless special arrangements have been made with me via email.

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In the short span since publishing this book, so sadly and heartbreakingly, my very dear sister and both my dear mother-in-law and father-in-law have passed away. I am even more passionate about palliative care for all of our loved ones, and so want to help others with my book. While my parents care was in their home, my experience with this now includes long term care facility. Whether in the home, long term care or hospital setting I cannot re-iterate enough the pure kindness and compassion of palliative care (end of life care and for those with life threatening illness) for all of our loved ones, as well as family members!

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