James Whitlow Delano, 51, is the last member of his nuclear family.
His parents long deceased, the only other immediate family member was his sister, Jeanne. In 2007, Jeanne was stricken with terminal cancer. After a courageous battle, surrounded by her family, Jeanne went gently into that good night. She was 49.
See also: 'The Mercy Project/Inochi' slide show.
Filipinos at a Benny Hinn Miracle Crusade, a fundamentalist Christian revival, Manila, Philippines. — Photo by James Whitlow Delano
James had been with her constantly. It was a sad and solemn time, especially for James, but a blanket of comfort provided by hospice care cloaked Jeanne and her family in a pain-free peace.
Feeling a great sense of gratitude, James wanted to repay the gift hospice had given to Jeanne and the family. He emailed 50 photographers he knew, asking them to send a photograph that represented the idea of "mercy." In two days, he had dozens of compelling photographs.
After some fits and starts, the result of James' tireless efforts is a beautiful book, filled with lush photographs by 118 photographers from around the world, many of whom had experienced hospice care with their families. Proceeds from the book's sales help fund hospice and palliative care, specifically the San Diego Hospice and Institute for Palliative Medicine, where Jeanne stayed, and the Japan Hospice Palliative Care Foundation in honor of the country where the book was published.
James discussed his experience with hospice and the loving homage he created for his sister.
Q. What were the best things about the hospice experience for you and your sister?
A. Jeanne and I were always very close and would spend hours deconstructing what had happened to our parents, through illness, and how lucky we were to remain so close. Still we built on this. I had to deliver some tough medical news to her, which forged our bond even more solidly.
Q. Did you alone care for her?
A. Jeanne also had the steadfast care and attention from my cousins, who all live in San Diego. I would come to San Diego for a month or more at a time, but they lived there and were there day in and day out, month in and month out supporting my sister. She was so grateful to have them there for her in a rock-solid fashion. We all were so close during that time of crisis. Sometimes families are divided by such events. We were united.
Q. Do you think hospice helped her have a peaceful death?
A. I am not sure that I would consider any death a good death, but she was able to make this involuntary journey free of pain, surrounded by people who cared about her. Without hospice, she would have had to endure long days in the institutional setting of a hospital. Instead she lived in a room surrounded by gardens in the security of knowing that, if pain got out of hand, a truly committed staff was just outside the door 24 hours a day.
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