Family alleges failure of care at SF Catholic hospital

A family from Boston says their loved one died at St. Mary's Medical Center in San Francisco after staff broke their own code of ethics and refused to provide basic care. ABC-7

Just the Way I Am: God's Good Design in Disability

Through photographs, Bible passages, and her own story, Krista Horning’s book tells of a wise and sovereign God who turns all things for good, including disability. Born with Apert syndrome that has required more than 60 surgeries and countless hours of therapy, Krista and her family understand the severe pain and suffering associated with disability. Yet they also experience God’s grace and are able to live with hope in God because they are anchored in God’s word. Desiring God

A mom's love: Woman devotes herself to caring for brain-injured daughter

"As a result of Sara's accident, since day one I've always had to advocate for her for necessary support and services. So I became an advocate. It was not something that I planned on doing. That was not my lifelong dream, but as a result I enjoy what I'm doing because I'm not only helping Sara, but I'm also advocating for people with brain injuries and disabilities." Citizen.com

A mom's love: Woman devotes herself to caring for brain-injured daughter

"As a result of Sara's accident, since day one I've always had to advocate for her for necessary support and services. So I became an advocate. It was not something that I planned on doing. That was not my lifelong dream, but as a result I enjoy what I'm doing because I'm not only helping Sara, but I'm also advocating for people with brain injuries and disabilities." Citizen.com

Caregiver stories

Read caregiver stories on Caregiver.com. Share your story by emailing the editor.

Living with a terminal illness

Five people with terminal illnesses movingly discuss what it really means to die: the despair, anger, hope – even humor. Times Online

I'm proof you should never give up on life

During Terry Waite's four long years of captivity as a hostage in Beirut, the flame of hope sometimes burned low. "Towards the end of my imprisonment, however, I was faced with my greatest trial. . . . I developed a severe lung infection. . . . My lungs were full of fluid. And what made my predicament even worse was the feeling that I was being a terrible burden to my fellow hostages, that my agonised breathing was a torment for them. I have to confess that in this bleakest moment of despair, I did think that death might be preferable to the life I was enduring. But then the power of the human spirit prevailed - and I fought back against my morbid, negative thoughts. Gradually, my health recovered - and I began the climb out of my pit of gloom. I am enormously grateful that I never gave up and surrendered to that fatal impulse." Daily Mail

Layla's Legacy - A True Story About the Value of Life

Bethany Christian Services often gets involved in tough pregnancies with hearts and hands of compassion. This story about Layla is sure to encourage experienced champions of life and stoic pro-choice people of the power of love and the value of life. Layla's Story

Discovering Purpose in Suffering

Sometimes finding God’s purpose in the midst of adversity requires us to make major personal changes over a period of time. At other times, our God-given purpose may be right in front of us. To discover it, we simply need to open our hearts to God’s leading and lift our eyes to opportunities we could easily overlook. FotF's TroubledWith.com

‘Such a Beautiful Passing From This Life’

When Evelyn finally got to look around her apartment and see that she was finally there, she beamed. It was quite clear that she was greatly relieved and delighted to finally be home again. She drifted into a coma that afternoon. That night, it snowed in Missoula. Silently and anonymously, friends, fellow parishioners and an untold number of neighbors came up to Evelyn's door. Without disturbing anyone, they left burning candles on Evelyn's porch, candles that burned brightly in the falling snow. I had the sense that there was a community who wanted to help someone die. Missoula Demonstration Project

MOVING VIDEO: In the Blink of an Eye

In a time when death is viewed as better than disability, this short video carries a simple truth profoundly stated. It moved me beyond words. It states, in a most eloquent way, what I believe with all my heart: all human life matters. In the Blink of an Eye - Video

Terry Pratchett (Prolific British Author): I'm Slipping Away a Bit at a Time... And All I Can Do is Watch it Happen

It occurred to me that at one point it was like I had two diseases - one was Alzheimer’s and the other was knowing I had Alzheimer’s. There were times when I thought I’d have been much happier not knowing, just accepting that I’d lost brain cells and one day they’d probably grow back or whatever. Part of the report I’m helping to launch today reveals that 50 per cent of Britons think there is a stigma surrounding dementia. Only 25 per cent think there is still a stigma associated with cancer. The stories in the report - of people being told they were too young or intelligent to have dementia; of neighbors crossing the street and friends abandoning them - are like something from a horror novel. Terry Prachett, Wesley Smith's Comments

Spouses sometimes find themselves as caregivers

In hindsight, L.H. Wilson said the signs of his wife’s dementia were there. But when Imogene Wilson did not recognize their longtime friends during a trip to the beach, he knew without a doubt there was a problem. Finding Yourself a Spousal Caregiver

Time for Dad to Die: After a Stroke, He's Gone But Still There

I love my 90-year-old father, and I wish he would die. In August, he told me, "I just want to live long enough to vote." On Oct. 20, just past midnight, he turned off CNN in his house in Massachusetts, started up to bed and had a massive hemorrhagic stroke. Had he had the stroke in the chair, my stepmother would have assumed he was sleeping, and without medical attention, he probably would have died by morning. The thumps he made falling down the stairs woke my sister and my stepmother, and saved his life. But what kind of life? Time for Dad to Die As a sideline, be sure to read Wesley Smith's reaction “What We Are Becoming: Time to Dehydrate Debilitated Stroke Patient”

Alison's Story

I am 50 and was born with severe spina bifida. I am completely dependent on my wheelchair for mobility. I am doubly incontinent and I have the lung condition emphysema, which often makes breathing very difficult. I also have osteoporosis (brittle bones), which has caused my spine to collapse, trapping nerves. This causes extreme pain, which is not always controlled, even with morphine. When the pain is at its worst, I cannot move or speak. This can go on for hours, and there is no prospect of relief. Some years ago, a combination of physical and personal problems led me to feel that I couldn't go on living. For ten years, I wanted to die and I made several serious attempts to kill myself. I'll always be grateful to the friends who saved my life (though I wasn’t at the time). And I'm especially thankful there was no possibility of persuading my doctors to legally help me die. Two things helped me realize that, in spite of my many disabilities, life can be sweet. Living with Spina Bifida