TO BE WITH ONE WHO IS DYING: The Seeker as a Young ManDr. Charles A. Garfield

Spring 1974 saw me on my way to Shanti’s second client, Luis R. An ex-marine, twenty years old, Luis was dying of pediatric leukemia which today he’d likely survive. From our initial meeting, he’d tested me with his no nonsense questions. “Do you believe in a life after death and, if you do, what form does it take?” “Do you think we’ll ever meet again, in another time and place, and recognize each other?” Luis and I spent hours discussing the purpose of his life and mine. We spoke about loving people, relationships, the pain caused by confusing roles (such as patient, psychologist, or physician) with human beings. Luis’ limited life span and his precocious maturity gave our exchanges an immediacy and vitality often absent in everyday life.