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David Dosa

Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat Hardcover – February 2, 2010

by David Dosa (Author)

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A remarkable cat. A special gift. A life-changing journey.

They thought he was just a cat.

When Oscar arrived at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rhode Island he was a cute little guy with attitude. He loved to stretch out in a puddle of sunlight and chase his tail until he was dizzy. Occasionally he consented to a scratch behind the ears, but only when it suited him. In other words, he was a typical cat. Or so it seemed. It wasn't long before Oscar had created something of a stir.

Apparently, this ordinary cat possesses an extraordinary gift: he knows instinctively when the end of life is near.

Oscar is a welcome distraction for the residents of Steere House, many of whom are living with Alzheimer's. But he never spends much time with them--until they are in their last hours. Then, as if this were his job, Oscar strides purposely into a patient's room, curls up on the bed, and begins his vigil. Oscar provides comfort and companionship when people need him most. And his presence lets caregivers and loved ones know that it's time to say good-bye.

Oscar's gift is a tender mercy. He teaches by example: embracing moments of life that so many of us shy away from.

Making Rounds with Oscar is the story of an unusual cat, the patients he serves, their caregivers, and of one doctor who learned how to listen. Heartfelt, inspiring, and full of humor and pathos, this book allows readers to take a walk into a world rarely seen from the outside, a world we often misunderstand.

Praise for Making Rounds With Oscar

"I love this book -- Oscar has much to teach us about empathy and courage. I couldn't put it down."
-Sarah Gruen, author of Water for Elephants

"At its heart, Dosa's search is more about how people cope with death than Oscar's purported ability to predict it."
-The Associated Press

"Beautifully written, heartwarming [...] Told with profound insight and great respect for all involved, this is more than just a cat story (although it will appeal to fans of Vicki Myron's Dewey)."
-Library Journal

"You'll be moved."
-People

Print length

240 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Hyperion
Publication date

February 2, 2010
Reading age

18 years and up
Dimensions

6 x 1 x 9.25 inches
ISBN-10

1401323235
ISBN-13

978-1401323233
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James Bowen
12,381
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122 offers from $1.49
John C. Cavanaugh
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Hardcover
23 offers from $67.50
Barbara A. Gylys BS MEd CMA-A (AAMA)
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52 offers from $25.00
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Dosa, a geriatrician with a strong aversion to cats, tells the endearing story of Oscar the cat, the aloof resident at a nursing home who only spends time with people who are about to die. Despite hearing numerous stories about Oscar's uncanny ability to predict when a patient's time is nearing, Dosa, ever the scientist, remains skeptical. Slowly, he starts to concede that there may be something special about Oscar. Dosa starts to pay more attention to the cat's decidedly odd behavior, noticing that Oscar seeks out the dying, snuggles with the patient and family members until the patient passes; with others, he smells the patient's feet, sits outside a closed door until admitted, or refuses to leave a dying patient's bed. Dosa discovers how powerfully Oscar's mere presence reassures frightened or grieving family. Ultimately, the good doctor realizes that it doesn't matter where Oscar's gift comes from; it's the comfort he brings that's important. This touching and engaging book is a must-read for more than just cat lovers; anyone who enjoys a well-written and compelling story will find much to admire in its unlikely hero. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Dr. David Dosa is a geriatrician at Rhode Island Hospital and an assistant professor of medicine at the Warrern Alpert Medical School of Brown University, both in Providence.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hyperion; 1st edition (February 2, 2010)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1401323235
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1401323233
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1 x 9.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #244,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #195 in Animal & Pet Care Essays
- #253 in Sociology of Death (Books)
- #627 in Grief & Bereavement

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David Dosa

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David Dosa MD, MPH is a practicing geriatrician and health services researcher at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. In July 2007, David garnered international attention for an essay on Oscar that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

After the story made headlines on morning television programs and newspapers around the world, David decided to write his first book "Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat" about his experiences with Oscar.

David lives with his wife and two children outside of Providence, Rhode Island. He is currently trying to convince his wife to buy a cat or a dog-- with significant assistance from his two kids. Unfortunately, like many of the characters in his book, David and his wife are also now part of the 'Sandwich Generation' a generation caught between raising children and caring for a parent with dementia.

For more information about David, please see his website at:

http://www.daviddosa.com

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5

945 global ratings

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Rick Shaq Goldstein

RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "THE EXPRESSION "A SHADOW OF THEIR FORMER SELF" WAS NO LONGER A CLICHÉ!"

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 6, 2010

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If a couple of decades ago I had made the statement that my life via family members had been touched on numerous occasions by Alzheimer's/dementia I would have been looked at very strangely. Sadly... if someone made that statement today... hopefully... other than true human compassion... there wouldn't even be a sideways glance. "TODAY THERE ARE OVER FIVE-MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS MORE WITH OTHER LESS COMMON FORMS OF DEMENTIA. WITHOUT NEW TREATMENTS, ESTIMATES SUGGEST THAT THIS NUMBER IS LIKELY TO SKYROCKET AS OUR POPULATION CONTINUES TO AGE."

Despite the staggering number of "eroding" minds... body... and souls... there is so little known... and so much to learn about this heartbreaking disease... that literally changes the lives of entire families... AND health care providers... with the unrelenting power of a tsunami. The author Doctor David Dosa is a geriatrician at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island. The heart wrenching story he tells here is also an educational journey for all involved. The recipients of the mental and emotional knowledge imparted here are current and future patients... their families... Dr. Dosa and his staff... and all such medical professionals that make the smart decision and open their mind and hearts to the stories in this book. The title character is Oscar the cat... though an important figure... what with his mystical power to "know" which patient was going to die shortly... and thus stand guard in an unrelenting vigil... which soothed patients... family... and medical staff... in ways no one could fully explain... yet... despite this "gift"... Oscar is not really the ultimate reward to readers of this book.

Doctor Dosa was admittedly not a "cat-person" and he didn't believe in Oscar's medically-psychic-endowment. Dosa's desire to talk to the family members of his deceased patients after the fact to get their perception of Oscar's effect led to a much wider discussion into all the sad and awful "ripple-effects" of Alzheimer's. Discussed intimately was the pre-diagnosis averting of facing the truth by loving family members. How they ignored the tell tale signs of this insidious disease. Then the painful realization that there would be years of visiting without being recognized... but yet their visits were critical. Tearfully enlightening is the views from all sides (patient/family/doctor) as to what treatments should be continued... where they should or shouldn't be done... and when they should be stopped. The personal sharing of a child's anguished summary of their parent's deterioration could be described as poetry... yet it's so sad there must be a better word... "EVERY DAY I MISS THE MOTHER I HAD SIXTEEN YEARS AGO, BUT NOT THE PERSON SHE BECAME. IT WAS LIKE WATCHING A KID, BUT HAVING THEM UNLEARN EVERYTHING THEY KNEW." And another family said... "IT MUST BE LIKE WATCHING A FILM OF A PERSON'S LIFE RUN BACKWARD, I THOUGHT, EXCEPT THE PERSON DOESN'T GET ANY YOUNGER."

The author explains his own angst in dealing with this unique morose disease: "IN CASES WHERE THE PATIENT HAS A TERMINAL ILLNESS SUCH AS CANCER, COMFORT-CARE DISCUSSIONS ARE RELATIVELY CONCRETE... "ALTHOUGH DISEASES SUCH AS ALZHEIMER'S ARE ALSO CONSIDERED TERMINAL, THEY MANIFEST THEMSELVES MUCH MORE SLOWLY. LIKE EROSION THAT CHANGES THE LANDSCAPE OF A BEACH, THE EFFECTS OF THESE DISEASES ARE MEASURED OVER MONTHS AND YEARS RATHER THAN DAYS." "CARE PROVIDERS AND FAMILIES ARE FORCED TO GRAPPLE WITH DECISIONS LIKE WITHHOLDING ANTIBIOTICS FOR A POTENTIALLY CURABLE PNEUMONIA OR DECIDING WHEN IT'S NO LONGER APPROPRIATE TO CONDUCT FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING FOR AN EVERYDAY CONDITION LIKE ANEMIA OR WEIGHT LOSS."

The greatest strength of this book is that even the doctor understands that medical definitions and multi-syllabic words are not what's important. It's the true humanity of all involved and there needs to be so much more education and guidance from the very first signs of this horrendous dignity destroying disease... and this book is an excellent starting place for everyone.

2 people found this helpful

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G. Passantino

Lessons for All Caregivers of Parents and Other Loved Ones

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 3, 2010

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I won't repeat the summaries or insights given by previous good reviewers. I just want to add what this book did for me. This book helped me to better understand, appreciate, and have patience with those aspects of my elderly mother's character and behavior that have been most persistently frustrating to me.

About 3 years ago, my husband and I brought my 87 year old frail mother into our family to live with us for the rest of her life, and she fell and broke her neck, necessitating major surgery, shortly after she came to us. The recovery and life together since has been more rewarding but also more frustrating and taxing than we ever could have imagined. Although she does not have any form of senility, and in fact remains one of the smartest people I've ever known, she is often very frustratingly reckless and uncooperative in her health and wellness care, and that takes a huge toll on those who love her, especially me and my siblings. At times I have found myself more consumed with worry and frustration than love and enjoyment. At times I've felt like the mother who lives with me is not the mother who raised me -- especially when she says or does things that she always taught us not to do.

Making Rounds with Oscar has taught me to enjoy the mother I have today without forsaking the mother I thought I had yesterday. It has taught me to respect her for who she is, even when she endangers or neglects herself despite my husband's and my "due diligence." It has taught me to experience "the moment" for what it is without regret for the past or fear for the future.

In fact, I think any adult child who has any worthwhile relationship with his/her parent should memorize the list of considerations at the end of the book. I'm thankful Dr. Dosa reminded me that part of "honoring" my mother is to honor her today as well as yesterday.

One of the most practical insights this book gave me was the reassurance that care giving for the elderly takes an enormous toll on the care giver, and that is not selfish but even beneficial for me to seek relief help even as my mother insists she does not need it and cannot afford it. I need it and therefore she needs it. Thankfully, her depression-era estimation of being unable to afford it and the realities of the support my father left her are not the same.

Whether your elderly loved one has dementia or not, whether you care about pets or not, whether you believe Oscar can sense impending death and acts in compassion or not, anyone who loves someone nearing the end of his/her life can benefit from this book.

14 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Janice L.

A bit disappointed

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 20, 2021

Verified Purchase

I felt this was a bit boring to be honest . I love cats and read good reviews about it but not for me .

Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 29, 2014

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Amazing book about an amazing cat. Helped me understand a lot more about dementia as well.

Carole

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 11, 2014

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a lovely tail about a cat with special powers

pat goulden

Great sory

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 11, 2020

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Great service

Amazon Customer

As a veterinarian I am well aware of the magical ...

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on June 10, 2018

Verified Purchase

As a veterinarian I am well aware of the magical skills of cats. The book was more about the author's attempt to believe the cat was capable of supporting people as they make their transition from physical life. Interesting hearing stories of the families dealing with dementia, who seemed not to have a problem recognizing Oscar's skills.

One person found this helpful

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