HB II DB Death & Dying. Week 13

Student 1. M. Ferreira.

Amanda Bennett shares the story of how she met her husband. She goes on by stating how they got married, traveled the world and had a lot of kids. She then shares with us that her husband found out he had cancer. She was not prepared for this at all. Each time he went for treatment she would always tell the doctors to try and keep him alive. After dodging death for the 3rd time there was nothing that could have saved him and he died 6 days later.

Amanda discusses that denial is when facing death of a love one. She reframes denial as calling it hope. She says we need a story of victory and triumph with eventually having a graceful retreat. She says dying is seen as failing instead of having a heroic narrative for letting go.

When faced with a client who has lost or is losing a loved one I would try to use what Amanda says in her ted talk as a strength for my client. Allowing my client to acknowledge the end and prepare to say good bye, trying to install that dying is heroic, trying to allow my client to be the best that they can be so when their loved ones have a graceful retreat they are still proud. This will be very difficult. But having grief circles may be helpful as well so everyone can share how they cope with death and this may help my client.

Student 2. P. Lopez.

The experience of losing a loved one particularly those close to us can be a traumatic and emotional experience. Amanda Bennett's experience and loss of her husband was traumatic in a sense that she and her family fought for so long fighting the cancer that kept returning and eventually took the life of her husband. She goes on to discuss what it would have looked like if she could have accepted the truth that she couldn't save him and that there would be an end. Her concept to reframe denial with hope and to help our loved ones who experience dying with this hope and heroic ending. Death is forced upon humanity yet there is an overwhelming fear of the end that impacts the lives of millions of people daily.

When faced with a client who is losing a loved one this would be a great concept to consider. The fact that we as humans have to accept death as a part of the life transition and to find ways to celebrate one's ending is a much more healing to a family who will continue the life course process. The idea of being sad can be overwhelming and prefer the idea of celebrating one's passing as more healthier concept. However, grief is a process and may vary for each family and person based on their experiences and connection to the individual who is dying.