MSI Press Blog

  A somber topic today indeed, but an important one. One that was so completely new to us when Carl was dying from cancer that not only did we not know what to expect, leaving us feeling lost and helpless, but also we had no idea even what questions to ask and where to search for answers, leaving us feeling depressed and fearful. I think that may not be completely uncommon. Here is a clinical description of dying from cancer: Dying from cancer is a process that involves  changes in body function and loss of control over bodily functions .  Some of the common signs that your body is preparing to die are  disorientation, incontinence, rattling breaths, extreme weakness, less interest in food, trouble swallowing, and muscle jerking . These signs are caused by the cancer spreading to different organs and systems, and the body shutting down. Frankly, these signs are pretty scary and disconcerting when you do not expect them and do not know how to interpret them -- let alone how to respond t

  While everyone dies from something eventually, not every cancer patient dies from cancer (thankfully -- and hopefully cancer will take ever fewer lives as more becomes known about causes and treatments). Nonetheless, while therefore a bit off the beaten track, it seemed worthwhile to share this article I came across recently from the UK:  This is what happens in the 30 seconds before you die... and whether your life really flashes before your eyes . For more Cancer Diary posts, click HERE . Read also more posts on death , dying , and near-death experiences . Blog editor's note: As a memorial to  Carl Leaver , MSI Press graphic arts director and designer, who died of  Cancer of Unknown Primary  August 16, 2021, and simply because it is truly needed, MSI Press is now hosting a web page,  Carl's Cancer Compendium , as a one-stop starting point for all things cancer, to make it easier for those with cancer to find answers to questions that can otherwise take hours to track down o

  Just released: the audiobook edition of Passing On: Preparing for the Afterlife  by Joanna Romer. Book description: Existence makes sense only if we include the afterlife as part of our history. Scientists are exploring the concept that life, including what is called the afterlife, may not be as we perceive it. New discoveries having to do with the simultaneous nature of time and the relativity of space coincide dramatically with the testimony of Near-Death Experience (NDE) survivors. The question is, where does our energy go and how much of our identity goes with it? Passing On: How to Prepare Ourselves for the Afterlife attempts to shed light on these questions and many others, such as: Do we meet up with loved ones after we pass on? Do we take form as a physical entity or are we pure essence? Do time and space exist in the afterlife, and: What are the characteristics of the afterlife---is it as joyful, loving and forgiving as those who have undergone a Near-Death Experience claim?

  When Carl was dying from cancer of unknown primary, he was reluctant to face his own mortality. He would not tall about it with anyone except our priest, Fr. Ed. When Fr. Ed arrived to give last rites, Carl had been mostly near-comatose for two days, but when Fr. Ed spoke his eyes flew open, he listened intently, and he even laughed at Fr. Ed's humor.  The following morning at 7:30 a.m., Carl passed away peacefully, surrounded by all his children and all his cats -- and of course, his wife. It was as if Fr. Ed's words, the last rites, or the presence that surrounded that encounter at last brought acceptance and peace. The vulnerable of someone approaching death, their apprehension, and their unwillingness to talk about it can be disconcerting for family members who not then know how to approach any of the realities of life at the moment. It appears that Spirit is quite important as this note I found somewhere online says: The Spirit A person’s spirituality is unique and pers

Kelly James, author of the newly released, popular book  The Book That Almost Got Me Fired , was recently a guest on the Coffee, Grief, and Gratitude podcast in the episode, Grief Affects All of Me . From the website:  Kelly talks about her range of grief from divorce, to the death of her kids’ father, her dad’s death and more. In this engaging, funny, tender conversation Kelly offers fabulous suggestions, like instead of asking someone “How are you?” she asks, “How are you right this second?” Read the rest at the website:  Coffee, Grief, And Gratitude: “Grief Affects All of Me” with Kelly James on Apple Podcasts CURRENTLY #3 ON AMAZON'S LIST OF HOT NEW RELEASES. Book description: You're 52. Divorced. Single mom to a teenaged son and a tween daughter. Happily self-employed but worried about the cost of health insurance, the inevitable impact of perimenopause on your body, and whether you should keep dating a sexy plumber who's sweet and funny but lives an hour away and doe