Family

I have been eager to obtain endorsements and reviews in support of WISHES TO DIE FOR. I recently met someone who knows the CEO of General Electric, Jeffrey Immelt. My new acquaintance tells the story of how Mr. Immelt toured an extended-care facility, commented that many of the patients appeared catatonic and was surprised to learn that many of … [Read more...] about I AM TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE YOU DO LOVE

Personally, life and love have always felt like obligations. Becoming Big Brother was simply my choice. Abandoned by his father and described as a sensitive child who cried a lot and had few friends, Daniel was instantly recognized as my Little Brother. I was matched with Daniel shortly after his eighth birthday in September of 1998 through the Big … [Read more...] about A MATCH TO DIE FOR

Hi Melissa, As your gay brother and accidental fan, we share a passion for personal empowerment. I am an Emergency Medicine physician and have written a book titled, WISHES TO DIE FOR. No wait, it’s not about dying wishes. It’s about seeing the end from the beginning and creating wishes by which to live. Not a medical book, it’s a spiritual … [Read more...] about FINAL SALUTE TO BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH: OPEN LETTER TO MELISSA ETHERIDGE

Halloween inspires horror stories of lives that end tragically and end-of-life stories that result in character assassination. Barbara Mancini is an emergency nurse. As a cohort and emergency physician, I can serve as a character witness. Nurse Mancini headlined 60 Minutes this week with her story of being arrested for aiding in the death of her … [Read more...] about THE SCARLET RN: BARBARA MANCINI

Routine urinary infections can be life-threatening in elderly patients. Last year my always-organized mother developed disorganized thinking in conjunction with a urinary infection. She claimed over our weekly phone call that her new medication did not make her feel right. She neglected to mention that having a fever was the reason for this … [Read more...] about LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

Being a child of God and having a mother named Mary has graced my life with divine relevance. My grade school, St. Mary’s, proclaimed the sanctity of this name. Each May the prettiest girl in school crowned the statue of the Blessed Mother. Seemingly, a voice from heaven had said to me, this is My beloved Mary with whom I am well-pleased (Mathew … [Read more...] about MY MOTHER, MARY

Sadly, Joan Rivers became another missing person on life support during the past several days. Lost to eternity on August 28th from a cardiac arrest during a routine endoscopy, her brain death was initially reported as a “medically induced coma.” She remained on life support for an entire week before being allowed to pass. Respectfully, the family … [Read more...] about JAHL ALERT: JOAN RIVERS BECOMES ANOTHER MISSING PERSON

Bucket lists commence the end of life; experiences we wish to realize prior to death. Sadly, I care for patients who tend to create laundry lists; dirty items that seem tedious, laborious, dreary, uninspired and messy.  Typical laundry lists include various complaints, perceived crimes or desired intentions. The extent to which these lists exist … [Read more...] about WHEN DYING BECOMES MESSY