Last month, WOW! Women on Writing Awarded Living Consciously, Dying Gracefully the Best Book in Women's Literature for 2008. It also placed second in the Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award in the Women's Issues category. In January the book was named a Finalist in the USA Book News Best Books of 2007 Awards.
Vicki Landes, of Reader Views, says, Living Consciously, Dying Gracefully is probably the most profound book on death I've ever read. Manahan and Bohan present a beautiful story of their loved one while offering hope to others facing similar circumstances. A life lesson for anyone wanting to leave a more powerful heritage behind, Living Consciously, Dying Gracefully tugs at the heartstrings, lifts the spirit, and pulls the conscious mind towards a more meaningful life and dignified ending."
When diagnosed with breast cancer, 55-year-old Diane Manahan, a nursing professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato, lived her last five and half years with peace, purpose and calm control. "Diane and her husband, physician Bill Manahan, handled her cancer and impending death with such openness, intelligence, and grace that we thought their story could serve as a model for others," Bohan says. Diane didn't fear death; she was open about living with cancer, even sharing her experiences with her nursing colleagues and students. She lived out her last years with attention and intention, taking time to say her good-byes in a deep and meaningful way.
Diane took an unusually active role in her treatment, using many complementary therapies and taking complete charge of her pain medication at the end. The authors were with Diane during her journey with cancer and both were at Diane's side when she died.
Living Consciously, Dying Gracefully serves as a guidebook for those dealing with life-threatening illnesses and offers practical suggestions for their family and friends. The book also shares uplifting lessons from Diane's after-death communications, which were powerful, comforting and sometimes life-changing for those who experienced them.
By celebrating Diane's journey in Living Consciously, Dying Gracefully, Manahan and Bohan hope to teach others what they learned from Diane: dying doesn't have to be dreadful or scary. "Diane showed how to be open and accepting and how to plan for the end," Manahan says. "Her death was so graceful and beautiful that whatever fears I had about my own dying disappeared."
About the Authors
Nancy Manahan, Ph.D., and Becky Bohan, M.A., have published four previous books. Manahan is a retired community college English, women's studies and film studies teacher. Bohan is the retired vice president of Knowledge Design and Delivery, Inc. The graduates of Madelia High School and the University of Minnesota make their home in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Living Consciously, Dying Gracefully: A Journey with Cancer and Beyond (ISBN 9781592981793, Beaver's Pond Press, Inc., 2007) can be purchased at local bookstores and online. For more information, visit http://www.nanbec.com. Review copies available upon request.
