Chaplaincy Student Writes Foreword for Book on Hospice

MA in Chaplaincy student Rich Miller-Murphy recently provided the foreword for the newly released reference book HOSPICE: A Different Type of Hope, edited by Ellen Long Stilwell, RN CHPN.  

The book has been called "An Essential Guide to hospice care that offers relief and peace of mind" by Kirkus Reviews. 

Rich thinks the book is important because “Most people [almost all] avoid the topic of death, especially as they themselves age and get closer to its reality.” The book provides feedback and insights from many members of hospice teams that make a difference in addressing this often difficult and painful stage.

Rich's journey toward acceptance of death has been a long one; he has experienced the loss of several loved ones throughout his life. Also, during a chaplaincy internship, he witnessed the profound impact of hospice team care and empathy. Rich included some of these personal experiences in the foreword.

Rich hopes the readers understand the importance of early exploration of hospice for themselves and their loved ones.  

Jack Canfield, co-author of the #1 NY Times bestselling "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series, wrote, "I love this book. It's an important one because most people avoid talking about death, and it is a subject that needs to be addressed and consciously planned for. This book helps all of us do that."

Click here for a PDF of Rich's foreword comments.

Congratulations, Rich!