End-of-life experiences are often viewed in terms of only one perspective such as medicine. In this volume, a variety of end-of life experiences are presented and each case is analyzed from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. These range across a broad array of the helping professions, and disciplines such as information, law and the social sciences.The book provides a variety of narratives about end-of-life experiences contributed by members of the Wayne State University End-of-Life Interdisciplinary Project. Each of the narratives is then analyzed from several different disciplinary perspectives. These analyzes illustrate how specific end-of-life narratives can be viewed from different dimensions and helps students, researchers and practitioners see the important and varied meanings that end-of-life experiences have at the level of the individual, the family, and the community. The narratives include end-of-life experiences of individuals from a number of diverse backgrounds.

Introduction Chapter One: The Model: Constructs, Story Domains, and Levels Major Constructs: Narrative and Culture Story Domains Level of Analysis Intersections Chapter Two: Stories of Ron: Music to His Ears Ron's Story, M. Gunnell A Narrative Response, R. Raspa An Information Response, L. M. Baker A Spiritual Response, D. E. Gelfand Chapter Three: Stories of Ryan: Too Little Time Ryan's Story, K. M. Meert A Physical Response, J. W. Finn A Spiritual Response, E. E. Chapleski A Narrative Response, R. Raspa Chapter Four: Stories of Abby: An Ojibwa Journal Abby's Story, E. E. Chapleski A Cultural Response, A. Z. Doorenbos A Provider Response, R. Thomas An Information Response, L. M. Baker Chapter Five: Stories of Grace: Gifts and Givers Grace's Story, D. Deremo and K. M. Meert A Spiritual Response, S. Myers Schim A Provider Response, S. M. Popkin A Life-Course Response, C. Thurston and K. M. Meert Chapter Six: Stories of Avery: Living and Dying Well Avery's Story, S. Myers Schim A Community Response, D. E. Gelfand A Cultural Response, S. H. Briller A Narrative Response, R. Raspa Chapter Seven: Stories of Maggie: Family Dynamite Maggie's Story, K. Stever An Economic Response, A. C. Goodman A Provider Response, M. Gunnell A Family Response, P. Wolf Chapter Eight: Stories of Malika: Defining A Person Malida's Story, K. M. Meert A Family Response, L. Harris A Provider Response, A. Canady A Cultural Response, S. H. Briller and A. Kabel An Ethics Response, K. M. Meert Chapter Nine: Stories of Sonny: Tattoos and Tolerance Sonny's Story, S. M. Popkin A Cultural Response, S. H. Briller A Legal Response, G. A. Cooney, Jr. A Narrative Response, R. Raspa Chapter Ten: Stories of Pearl: Surviving End-of-Life Care Pearl's Story, J. W. Finn A Provider Response, R. Zalenski An Economic Response, A. C. Goodman A Provider Response, E. E. Chapleski Chapter Eleven: Stories of Henry: Family Choices and Challenges Henry's Story, G. Cooney A Narrative Response, R. Raspa An Ethical Response, D. E. Gelfand An Information Response, L. M. Baker Chapter Twelve: Stories of Peter: Trouble with God and Family Peter's Story, A. Z. Doorenbos A Provider Response, S. Myers Schim and R. Thomas A Spiritual Perspective, A. Z. Doorenbos A Narrative Perspective, R. Raspa v Chapter Thirteen Stories of Jim: Homeless and at Home Jim's Story, D. Deremo A Policy Response, D. E. Gelfand and A. Z. Doorenbos A Legal Response, G. A. Cooney, Jr. A Provider Response, M. Gunnell Chapter Fourteen: Stories of Shanti: Culture and Karma Shanti's Story, A. Z. Doorenbos A Cultural Response, E. E. Chapleski An Ethical Response, D. E. Gelfand A Narrative Response, R. Raspa Chapter Fifteen: Stories of Three Veterans: A Spectrum of Palliation Three Veterans' Stories, R. Zalenski Richard's Story Moses' Story George's Story A Provider Response, J. W. Finn A Family Response, T. Kovach A Communication/Information Response, K. M. Meert Chapter Sixteen: Boundaries and Bridges