187 Surviving with Laughter: Angela Nissel Talks Hospice and Healing
Host Marie Betcher, a former hospice nurse, interviews writer and memoirist Angela Nissel about her book “Good Grief: Pass the Bread, Mom is Dead” and her mother’s end-of-life journey. Angela describes a complicated, achievement-focused relationship with her RN mother, who hid advanced breast Cancer and feared judgment for “giving up.” Angela brought her to Los Angeles, expecting more treatment, but a doctor recommended hospice; her mother felt relief and was on hospice about six weeks. Angela shares what Caregiving taught her, including learning to “just be her daughter,” navigating pain medication fears, misconceptions that hospice hastens death, a brief end-of-life rally, and the value of dignity, trust-building, and services like 24/7 care and music Therapy. She says hospice became their best, most connected time together and writing later helped her talk about death and grief.
00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer
00:35 Meet Angela Nissel
03:08 A Complicated Mother Daughter Bond
04:54 Caregiving Lessons in Hospice
07:53 Cancer Progression and Hospice Decision
10:26 Nurse Identity and Letting Go
11:55 Her Nursing Career and NICU Work
14:33 Grief Writing and Dark Humor
16:21 Siblings and Hiding Illness
19:24 Changing the Fight Cancer Narrative
22:12 Comfort Meds and Hospice Myths
25:21 Terminal Rally and 24 7 Care
29:44 Inside the Book and Hospice Journals
32:09 Final Reflections and Goodbye
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1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency,
This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.
