ABSTRACT
For the family and friends ofthe person who is dying, the thought of such finality can be equally hard to bear. To think that life will mean going on without their loved one can be heart-breaking. For years we may have built our lives and identities to be intertwined with a spouse 01' a child or a deal' friend. We may have known them for 30 or 60 years. They have played a significant role in our stories ofwho we are. To say a final good-bye can amount to acting as though their contribution to our stories no longer matters. In some circumstances, this distancing can be harmful to those who remain alive. On the other hand, bringing to life those who have died and keeping a person's memory alive can be life-saving. The following story illustrates this point.
