Chiaramonte’s tone is inviting and uplifting as she shares her personal journey—and case studies of patients she has worked with over the years—while highlighting the emotional strain and mental anguish caregivers face when caring for a loved one. She helps readers “navigat[e] the experience of illness,” teaches balance between caregiving and self-care, and offers easy-to-follow suggestions on staying connected to loved ones, even in the face of life-altering diagnoses. As much an in-depth educational resource as it is a profound testament to resilience, Chiaramonte’s guide will comfort, enlighten, and challenge readers to “endure hardship and find meaning.”
Combining traditional medical practices with integrative palliative care is the answer, according to Chiaramonte, and she provides easy steps, along with interactive exercises at the end of each chapter, to help readers understand and implement her advice, covering everything from advanced care directives to staying calm during high stress events. When faced with the question “How am I supposed to live my life now that I know I’m going to die?” from many of her patients, her answer will inspire: "The way you always have." That encouraging message reverberates throughout this compassionate, insightful guide, transforming devastating situations into opportunities for hope.
Takeaway: Integrative palliative medicine offered as an answer for complex medical diagnoses.
Comparable Titles: Kathryn Mannix's With the End in Mind, Robin Bennett Kanarek’s Living Well with a Serious Illness.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
