Welcome!

I'm back! 🎙️ After a little podcasting pity party I'm diving into one of the hardest parts of caring for aging parents: what happens when a terminal diagnosis lands in the family group chat.

Inspired by a close friend whose 80-something dad went from playing tennis to navigating aggressive prostate cancer, this episode gets real about:

• 3:08 Being the healthcare person in the family — when the doctor calls you before calling the patient
• 5:41 The Tetris metaphor for disease progression (yes, really, and it works)
• 7:49 Where does the family's grief energy go? Urgency, anger, bargaining — and Rebecca's unsolicited suggestion to throw a big party
• 15:40 The go-bag for when the call comes (dog boarding included)
• 19:52 "I can see the doorway, but I haven't walked in yet" — the most honest thing anyone has ever said about anticipatory grief
• 24:00 Making a quilt out of dad's T-shirts as a grief plan — and why that's actually brilliant

Caveats:

• This is a judgement free zone
• There are no "shoulds" allowed, we live in curiosity
• Take what works well for you, leave the rest!
• This podcast is for informational purposes only; it is not intended as formal legal, financial or medical advice

If you are finding value in this podcast, please share and leave a review so others can find it too!

Rebecca

Disclaimer: The information presented on this podcast is solely for information purposes. We do not provide medical, legal, financial, or other professional advice through this podcast and we are not responsible for any errors or omissions. It is your responsibility to seek advice from a licensed professional. Any actions you take are done at your own risk.