"A patient who was suffering from a life threatening illness, and was awaiting a transplant in order to save her life, once said to me, "'am so grateful for my illness, as I am a much better person because of it.' Mary Ellen McDonald embodies this spirit in her courageous memoir. Her deceased loved ones live on in her heart, and thereby they continue to touch and positively impact our lives. Rather than being crippled and devastated by her many losses, Mary Ellen's life is strengthened and enriched, and so are we by her beautiful and poignant meditations on grief. " -- Psychotherapist Jacob Megdell "It is never to late to grieve and mourn and Mary Ellen in her book “Grief til Now” expresses this beautifully. Through her journey of reflection and grief work shines honesty and growth and continued healing." -- Audrey Stringer, author of "Get Over It! Surviving Grief to Live Again" and "Scaling the Mountain of Grief: Creating a New Normal through Loss and Healing." About the Author: Mary Ellen McDonald( nee Patterson) was born at St Joseph’s Hospital, Sarnia to Melvin and Mary Patterson. She was educated at Blackwell Public School, St Clair Secondary School, Victoria Hospital School of Nursing London, and University of Western Ontario. Additional pastoral courses were taken through CAPE The Canadian Association for Pastoral Care. The first unit of 400 hours she provided pastoral care to families who experienced a sudden death in the Emergency department or Motor vehicle collisions as well as the spectrum of newly diagnosed cancer patients and their families, to patients who were actively dying and their families The second unit she provided 400 hours on the admission unit of the St Thomas Psychiatric Facility. Mary Ellen has been involved with Palliative Care since 1982 in Sarnia Lambton. She has worked in all sectors of health care including Hospital, Community and Long Term Care. She has achieved The National Certification for Hospice Palliative Care 2009 It is Mary Ellen’s personal experience with loss which compliments her knowledge and understanding of the challenges of grief. Since her conversion to Catholicism 1989 she has been involved at St Michael’s Parish as a Eucharistic Minister, Catholic Women’s League, Caring and Sharing Group. She is also an Associate of the Sisters of St Joseph’s. Professionally, she is a member of the College of Nurses of Ontario, RNAO, Grief Support Network, Sarnia Lambton Palliative Care Association, Save Palliative Care,The End of Life Network, the Bereavement Network. Mary Ellen is a local bereavement counselor,speaker and author of Grief Til Now. Mary Ellen is married to Garry McDonald, has 2 married daughters,2 grandsons and 2 granddaughters and a dog named Toto. |