" Story has always been a means of learning lessons and, from fairy tales to the Bible, young and old have been able to absorb messages through the use of both the analytical left brain and the imaginative right brain. Palliative care has been called the science of the anecdote, and through sharing these stories I hope readers interested in palliative care, as well as the community at large, will benefit in whatever way is appropriate for them. Some may say after reading these stories that they would have acted differently in the past; some may see events in a new light. Whatever the reaction, I hope the stories will prove to be useful as we all struggle to make sense of our complex existence. The names and circumstances of the people involved have been changed as my intention is to protect those who may choose to see things differently through the lens of memory.

These stories represent my personal reflections and the lessons I have learned from them. They reveal my character and personal journey, for I believe we take ourselves, warts and all, to our work. We cannot give away what we do not have. Therefore, if I am full of doubts and fears, those are probably what I will project. Health professionals frequently project their personal fear of death onto those in their care, just as people with problems of unresolved grief frequently react to their projections"

Joy Nugent