Life on Hold: Finding Hope in the Face of Serious Illness

by David G. Seiler, Laurel Seiler Brunvoll, Laurel S. Brunvoll

Beyond sending a "get-well card," many people know little about supporting someone through a serious illness -- let alone passing through one themselves. Life on Hold answers the need of many people who face -- or may soon be faced with -- a health crisis of longer duration. Written by a father and daughter who lost their wife and mother to an extended battle with cancer, this sensitive personal journal is dotted with illustrations from real-life survivors. Each chapter offers tools for dealing with the challenges of physical illness. A practical, spiritual handbook, it shows sufferers, ministers, lay workers, family, and friends how to trust God during a season of recovery or release. Scripture and counsel on getting through the first several weeks are among this book's most rare and precious gifts.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590528271
• ISBN13: 9781590528273
• Release Date: June 2006
• Publisher: Multnomah Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Very Useful

I purchased this product because I have read it, and shared several copies over the past few years. I'm stocking up to have some available when the need arises. It is well written and deals compassionately with the subject of a loved one's dying as well as offering all kinds of helpful advice and ideas.

great advice from the heart

This book is a great example of someone using the difficult things they have gone through in life to help others going through the same things. After learning from the death of their wife/mother, Seiler and Brunvoll have a wealth of helpful information to share with anyone facing the death of a loved one. This book is also very useful for people who have friends or family that are in the above situation. Though this book is written froma Christian perspective, it will have tremendous impact for Christians and non-Christians alike.

What a blessing!

This book was an incredible encouragement as I faced losing my father to brain cancer and a vital part of my healing process after he died. I loved the practical advice of how to help family and friends support the person going through the illness. The journal entries were a huge encouragement and really helped to give insights into what a person struggles with as they face death. The information on hospice care was right on! I only wish someone had told me about this book months sooner. A must read for anyone facing terminal cancer or for anyone providing care and support for a loved one.

Life on Hold: A Tremendous Reference Book

Life on Hold is about coping with serious illness. "Such an honest book," I thought, as I began reading. As a friend of one of the authors, Laurel Seiler Brunvoll, I was given a copy of this book, but I did not read it right away. I was afraid of reading about the suffering of my friend. I was prompted to start reading the book because I thought it may be an appropriate gift for someone who had just been diagnosed with cancer. I was right. Life on Hold has the potential to help so many people. It shares feelings of the patient and family members. Written from a Christian perspective, there are many inspirational Bible verses including a list by topic of Bible verses and Hymns. There are discussions about God and how He figures into these difficult situations. This book is appropriate for those who already believe in God or those who are seeking to know God. What makes it appropriate for all people is the many wonderful lists of what to do or not to do, whether you are a family member, friend or even the patient. Have you ever wondered how to act or what not to say when visiting someone in the hospital who is seriously ill? I have. This book has answers. Have you ever wondered what you could do to help a family coping with serious illness? Besides the usual make-a-meal idea, this book offers unique ideas like offering to help file medical bills and insurance claims. What a tremendous gift and burden lifted that could be for a distracted family! I would recommend this book to anyone. Life on Hold is written from the heart and has so many uplifting and helpful tips to ease a difficult and stressful time.