Choosing How We Die: The Experiences of Those Who Did

By June W. Lamb

Choosing How We Die compels the reader to see his or her own journey through the dying process as something we can only consider when we are healthy and as a gift to those we leave behind after we are physically dead. These true stories of four people who made the choice of facing their own death and communicating their wishes clearly to their loved ones as they carried them out can inspire us to examine our belief systems around the subject of mortality. Combining psychological and spiritual wisdom, June shares from her long experience, as a mature friend and relative, some surprising conclusions made by others about the dying process. Attention to this part of life can prove to be a great relief and emphasizes the truth that when the reality of death has been faced, life takes on new meaning.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Mar 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781504351263

June W. Lamb

June W. Lamb practices as a licensed family therapist in San Mateo, California. She specializes in helping families challenged by life-threatening illness. She taught in the San Mateo Community College District and trained volunteer hospice caregivers for twenty-four years while holding a provider of continuing education for nurse’s certification. She is well known among local oncology health professionals and lectures widely. June loves spending time with her family, staying active through crisis counseling for the high school district, and committee work with the San Mateo Rotary Club. She has no plans for retirement.

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Copyright © 2016 June W. Lamb.

Cover art by Garrett Lamb

Logo art by Christine Remy

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The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

ISBN: 978-1-5043-5125-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-5126-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016902989

Balboa Press rev. date: 04/14/2016

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter I Charlie

Chapter II Denise

Chapter III Sophia

Conclusion

Also Available by June W. Lamb

The Learning Journey

Absorbing Life's Lessons

DEDICATION

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I am very grateful to have received so much support, with encouragement to share what I have been taught about family systems, as well as about individual courage in facing our physical death. We have made a great leap in consciousness this past decade by passing laws to include physician assisted death, or death with dignity, as a choice when we can no longer sustain physical life.

I dedicate this book to the many friends and colleagues who know of my work in helping families dealing with catastrophic illness. By writing this book I have chosen to share yet another choice in how we die which I have been witness to. The stories of people who have chosen to be released from their physical body without anyone else giving assistance are remarkable. Having been given permission to share these stories, I offer their experiences and their families response to their choice in dying. They have made an invaluable contribution to our understanding and acceptance of our mortality.

We run after values that, at death, become zero. At the end of your life, nobody asks how many degrees you have or how many mansions you built, or how many Rolls Royces you can afford. That's what dying patients teach you.

Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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Every story in this book is true, but it has been necessary to change names and places in order to provide privacy. I am eternally grateful to those whose stories were used to illustrate a universally human experience, that of dying. I acknowledge the