On My Way Home
A Hospice Nurse's Journey with Terminal Cancer
by Joyce Hutchison
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Pub Date Mar 03 2017 | Archive Date Mar 28 2017
Description
When Joyce Hutchison received the diagnosis of stage-four lung cancer, she couldn’t believe it. “I have worked in oncology, hospice, and palliative care for thirty-five years. It makes no sense for me to have cancer—especially terminal cancer.” As she shared the painful news with her children, endured the hardships of chemotherapy, and coped with weakness and exhaustion, she came to the realization that she wanted to share this journey with others, “to assist those in . . . the most difficult stage of life.”
In sixteen brief chapters Hutchison gives an account of the physical, emotional, and mental challenges of each step: when chemo made her dreadfully sick, when her emotions fluctuated wildly in a matter of minutes, how she felt when people told her she looked so good. She shares how her sense of humor helped her cope with the weariness of yet another procedure and the isolation that accompanies cancer. Her account includes not only the story of her illness, but also how she responded when her second husband left their marriage and when her daughter was diagnosed with cancer, too.
Despite her suffering, Hutchison held fast to faith. Supported by her family and friends, she tells how she experienced God’s love in a new way. A foreword and afterword by Joyce Rupp, Hutchison’s writing partner on her two previous books, provide context for the book and relate the circumstances of Hutchison’s death on May 7, 2016, and the Mass of the Resurrection that followed.
Features & Benefits
Joyce Hutchison's two previous books have combined sales of more than 67,000 copies.
Hutchison was profiled in a March 23, 2016, cover story in the Des Moines Register.
A Note From the Publisher
She was the coauthor, with Joyce Rupp, of two bestselling books, May I Walk You Home? and Now That You’ve Gone Home. She was the mother of three and grandmother of nine.
Advance Praise
“Knowing others might benefit from reading her book gave Joyce significant pleasure. She felt this was one last service she could give others. The desire to contribute generously never left her.”
From the afterword by Joyce Rupp
Catholic writer, speaker, and retreat leader
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781594717291 |
| PRICE | $13.95 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
Courtney S, Reviewer
This sweet book is written by a woman dealing with terminal cancer. It takes you through a journey from diagnosis to death. It is a gentle book, much like a cyber hug from the author to the reader. It never falls into maudlin sadness, rather it is a positive piece on getting ready to die.
Simply written, it never belabours Hutchison's Christian faith, but it is expressed clearly in this book. This would be ideal for people in Hutchison's situation, for both the patient and the associated family. There are plenty of passages that I found myself relating to as I relived my personal journey with cancer.
Joyce is your typical woman; a wife and mother of three, grandmother of nine. What follows in this book is a brief journey in the battle to live. She talks about not being ready to leave her family, the toll the cancer took on her marriage and the way her family rallied around her.
There is a particularly touching part of this book that likens death to birth. That a baby may be frightened when the labour pains begins, but it leads to a great new adventure. Similarly death can be seen as frightening or it can lead to a whole new adventure.
Sue F, Reviewer
I read this short book in one sitting. I found it very sad at times. Joyce seemed a lovely caring lady and even when she could fight this terrible disease no longer she never questioned "Why me?". Her faith was very strong and it played a big part in her acceptance of her fate.
Irene A, Reviewer
Three and a half star rating.
A short account of the author's battle with cancer and ultimate death, plus a little about her life - the irony being that she used to take care of people in this exact same position. A sad book of course given the subject matter, but also uplifting as she faced her treatment and final days with courage and dignity. This lady thought a lot about other people, especially her family who did all they could for her, and not much about herself. This was a very moving book and came away feeling Joyce would have been a wonderful friend.
