Cancer

House with darkened windows and two lighted rooms

My Landlord Died From Cancer While We Sheltered In Place Together

By

What it felt like to watch her slow, surreal demise during a slow, surreal moment in the world.

sound waves

Chemo Stole My Dad’s Hearing. Then, My Daughter Heard Her First Sound.

By

Our family's circular journey through cochlear implants, loss, and good vibrations.

A Person Is a World

By

My mother’s death was followed closely by the pandemic — creating this strange and still and endless space in which everyone is grieving something.

Scenes from a Dead Mom Graphic Memoir

By

From cliché grief remedies that actually work to 'reaction bingo,' our favorite cartoons from 'Dancing at the Pity Party'

Processing My Friend’s Death in the Sound Studio

By

My podcast helped me work through who I am - and who I want to be - when I was questioning everything.

How My Dying Mom and I Learned to Meditate

By

Ironically, a practice we'd always joked about brought us even closer together.

My Father’s Death Changed the Way I Think About Time

By

I was always running minutes, even hours, behind. Not anymore.

My Bizarre Childhood Wish Showed Up in My Mom’s Cremains

By

I found the one piece of her that didn't get scattered.

It’s The Worst Wonderful Time of The Year

By

I'm heading into my first 'festive' seasonal stretch after my husband's death and have no clue what I'll do. Weirdly, that's ok.

How a Psychic Medium Broke Through My June Gloom

By

An unexpected exchange reconnected me with my vivacious friend years after her death.

Laundry, Before and After

By

I used to resent the endless sorting, washing and folding. Then my daughter got sick — and everything changed.

Important Guidelines for Large Adult Orphans

By

On the one hand, you must become both parent and child; on the other, you may request to to be flown to Rome for a pasta dinner.

His Sister Was Dying as We Were Falling in Love

By

I learned of her illness shortly after our first date. Her absence remains a presence still.

The Good Work of Providing Good Food for Solace

By

Some delicious and nourishing ways to lift the burden of cooking from a grieving person's shoulders.

How I’m Dealing with Climate Grief

By

Sometimes I'm grateful my mom is dead—she gets to avoid witnessing the devastation on Earth. Getting involved in climate justice has given me hope.

Why I Didn’t Post About Grandma’s Death on Facebook

By

It felt like something that I was supposed to do, but it wasn’t something I wanted to do.

The Show Must Go On

By and

My mom’s life went dark after cancer won out. But it didn’t mean my beloved theater-going had to as well.

Mother Loss and My Lyft Driver

By and

I had a five star ride -- but not for the reasons I'd expected.

John Duberstein Nina Riggs Lucy Kalanithi Modern Loss

My Guide to Finding Love After Loss

By

A totally conventional and easily followed roadmap to emotional transition, by the widower of "The Bright Hour" author.

The Museum of ‘Before’

By and

My mother's Facebook profile has become a small souvenir of life (and her) before she got sick.

1 2 3 4