Saul Ebema, D.Min.
In continuation to my article on “knowledge of death as a crisis in hospice care”, I will attempt to dive into what follows next after the knowledge or awareness of death. According to Kubler- Rose, “There are five stages of dying that someone diagnosed with terminal illness will most likely experience.”[1] She said that the first common reaction to death and dying is denial. Throughout my experience as a hospice chaplain, I have come to notice the same pattern. Denial is the most likely reaction to a diagnosis of terminal illness. “No not me, that can’t be true,” This reaction is typical because, no one expects to be confronted by death in such a random way without preparation. Therefore, denial functions as a shock absorber to help deal with shocking news. Denial allows the person confronted with a diagnosis of terminal illness to recollect themselves and…
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