Using the Power of Hope to Cope with Dying: The Four Stages of Hope [Hardcover]

Cathleen Fanslow-Brunjes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2008 | ISBN-10: 1884956807 | ISBN-13: 978-1884956805 | Edition: 1

Cathleen Fanslow-Brunjes’ “Hope System,” which incorporates the four stages of hope, is a proven program that has helped more than 40,000 dying individuals at all stages of the dying process. This powerful and simple system enables families, friends, and professional caregivers to understand and assist the dying on their journey. Fanslow-Brunjes shows the reader—both the living and the dying—how to use the power of hope to cope with the inevitable. Offering practical advice in a way readers will be able to use regardless of their beliefs, Using the Power of Hope to Cope with Dying addresses all levels of the experience—physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual. Fanslow-Brunjes is an internationally acclaimed expert in the fields of death, dying, grief, and hospice care. Fanslow-Brunjes developed the “Standards of Care for the Dying Patient” program used throughout the United States Veterans Administration hospital system and the “Standards for Nursing Practice for the Care of the Dying” program used statewide in New York.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Hope is necessary for survival. It is not about statistics and there is no false hope. This book gives the reader an excellent perspective about the role hope can play in one’s life while confronting one’s mortality. You can learn to live until you die rather than be dying.”  —Bernie Siegel, MD, author, Love, Medicine & Miracles

“This potent and inspiring message is highly recommended for both the professional and the nonprofessional end-of-life caregiver.”  —Dolores Krieger, PhD, RN, author, Therapeutic Touch as Transpersonal Healing

“When a person is dying, the sense of having lost all hope is often worse than the prospect of death; this book is an antidote to hopelessness.”  —Ira Byock, MD, author, The Four Things That Matter Most

“Rabindranath Tagore, the great Indian poet, said, ‘Hope is the bird that sings before the dawn.’ In this wonderful book, Cathleen Fanslow-Brunjes helps us recognize this song so we can harmonize with it. It is when the darkness is the most profound that hope emerges as the true reality. She gives us tools which we can use to create the music of love which each soul needs.”  —Gladys Taylor McGarey, MD, MD(H), founder and past president, American Holistic Medical Association

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Cathleen Fanslow-Brunjes, MA, RN, is an internationally acclaimed expert in the fields of death, dying, grief, nursing, and hospice care who developed the “Standards of Care for the Dying Patient,” which is used throughout the U.S. Veterans’ Administration Hospital System. An acclaimed pioneer in the field of hospice, she created the Hospice Program for New York’s Visiting Nurse Service and the first free-standing hospice in Switzerland, worked at the first certified hospice in Long Island, and was director of nursing at Calvary Hospital in New York, considered by many to be the first hospice in the United States. She is the recipient of the National Hospice Organization’s President’s Award, the Award for Excellence from the National Hospice Association, the Healer of the Year Award for outstanding achievement in the field of healing from the Nurse Healers Professional Associates, and an award from the New York State Hospice Organization in recognition of extraordinary service to the New York Hospice movement. She lives in Langley, Washington.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 140 pages
• Publisher: Linden Publishing; 1 edition (June 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1884956807
• ISBN-13: 978-1884956805
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,033,217 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A precious approach for caregivers and the family of the dying, July 31, 2008

By 

Mary J. Simpson (Oakville, ON CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Using the Power of Hope to Cope with Dying: The Four Stages of Hope (Hardcover)

For many years Cathy presented highly valued, experiential workshops, which contrary to the many available palliative/bereavement workshops , were personal and experiential in nature. They provided a depth of understanding as participants recalled their own experiences with dying relatives and learned how to make this experience a "healing" time for all concerned. Cathy is a hugely compassionate person. Her depth of understanding of the needs of the dying and their families is rooted in over 40 years experience in hospice work. One of her early mentors was Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, MD (known for the Five Stages of Grief).

In my personal life I have used Cathy's approach several times with loved ones. It provided a depth of 'knowing' that allowed me to be truly present before and during the transition. Its 120 pages are practical and easy to understand. Her "Hand-Heart Connection" is an easily learned technic of compassionate interaction with the seriously ill and the dying. I would like to see this precious volume as recommended reading for anyone who tends the dying - and that eventually will include us all!

Reviewed by Mary J. Simpson, RN, Palliative Care Nurse & Hospice Volunteer.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hope Heals, February 3, 2009

By 

Mary M. Robsahm "Meg" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Using the Power of Hope to Cope with Dying: The Four Stages of Hope (Hardcover)

Cathy's little book enlightens and brightens my heart. For me personally, reading it was a treasure found. Though it has been several months since I have read it, I can hear her voice gently asking: what are you hoping for? And if I don't answer, I know she will again ask this simple and yet profound question that unlocks my soul and gives me the okay to say what I feel, and share what I want or need.

As a certified oncology massage therapist and educator, I find this question, "what are you hoping for today" to unravel layers of important information that help me work more completly and more authentically with my clients. It is more than just instructive; asking it allows me to see the human being in front of me; not just their disease or pain.

Hope Heals. This is the take home message. Cathy's question allows us to reconcile our fears by casting light onto the shadows. The act of asking "what are you hoping for today" breaths life, light and love into every step of our journey; where ever we may be along that journey.

Bless you Cathy, for sharing your bright being with us.

Meg Robsahm, Certified Oncology Massage Therapist and Educator

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The author's an internationally acclaimed expert in death, dying and hospice care who has presented over 600 workshops, February 9, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Using the Power of Hope to Cope with Dying: The Four Stages of Hope (Hardcover)

Using the Power of Hope to Cope With Dying: The Four Stages of Hope offers the dying and their caregivers a powerful tool proven in helping over 40,000 dying individuals at all stages of the dying process. The author's an internationally acclaimed expert in death, dying and hospice care who has presented over 600 workshops on the topic: her book is a powerful assessment of the different hopes of the dying, and is a pick any public library will relish.