Name: We need a heroic narrative for death
Uploaded: 2013-10-15T15:00:02Z
Duration: 15 min 10 s
Description: Amanda Bennett and her husband were passionate and full of life all throughout their lives together -- and up until the final days, too. Bennett gives a sweet yet powerful talk on why, for the loved ones of the dying, having hope for a happy ending shouldn't warrant a diagnosis of "denial." She calls for a more heroic narrative for death -- to match the ones we have in life.

Amanda Bennett and her husband were passionate and full of life all throughout their lives together -- and up until the final days, too. Bennett gives a sweet yet powerful talk on why, for the loved ones of the dying, having hope for a happy ending shouldn't warrant a diagnosis of "denial." She calls for a more heroic narrative for death -- to match the ones we have in life.

We need a heroic narrative for death

Hope propels families and patients to fight fiercely, even against grim odds. One woman and her husband spent seven years chasing treatments for terminal cancer, always believing they could defy fate. Even with clear advance directives, they redefined hope again and again. The absence of a heroic narrative for dying leaves many unprepared to let go, highlighting the need for a story that honors both the struggle and the final farewell.