Wishing you a joyous Thanksgiving with your family, friends, and pets.

Click on the link or copy in new window:

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/05/11/egreetings/image/01.swf

Louie's Angel Day-November 24

November is a sad month for us. We have lost precious loved ones through the years in the month of November. Today we had to say goodbye to our grand dog, Louie. It was his time to leave this life and join Jackson (March 2014), Sierra (November 2011), and Laura (November 2008) in Heaven.

Louie lived 11 years on this planet. He fought a good battle and should have received a medal for enduring the treatments. He was a real trooper. Danielle and David were blessed to have him an extra seven months. 

Louie was such a lovable dog. He was full of personality and always looking for fun and hugs. He was always happy to see you and he let you know it. Usually he would have a bone or a toy hanging from his mouth as he came to greet you. Louie was a fabulous rescue dog. He brought happiness and smiles to our family his entire life, most importantly to Danielle, his mama. Louie is and always will be Danielle’s baby boy.

Lou-Lou will be missed tremendously by us.

WE LOVE YOU LOUIE...

Jackson, Sierra, Louie in Heaven together

I miss my daughter so much

my heart hurts...

6

years without 

seeing Laura, 

hugging Laura, 
laughing with Laura, 
arguing with Laura, 
sharing joy with Laura, 
shopping with Laura, 
sharing secrets with Laura,
texting Laura, 
taking pictures of Laura
discussing work with Laura,
buying gifts for Laura, 
watching TV with Laura, 
dining with Laura, 
talking face to face with Laura,
complaining with Laura,
watching Laura with her Dad, David, & Danielle
experiencing life with Laura,
being a mom to Laura

and the list goes on and on...

Friends,

Consumer Reports Health has launched many new online "hubs" recently with focuses on a variety of Choosing Wisely related topics, including antibiotic overuse, medical tests before surgery, safe pregnancy, and screening tests. Today they launched a new hub on a topic that has been very present in the news recently -- that of caregiving, end-of-life decisions, and medical tests, and treatments for older adults.

Highlights of this hub include:

·  A short and emotional documentary that we created, called A Beautiful Death, which follows a courageous man through his final weeks of life -- including his funeral -- as he, his family, and his caregivers make end-of-life decisions together. 

·  A Consumer Reports magazine article, released to newsstands today, also called A Beautiful Death. A synopsis of the article is as follows: Paul Scheier lived a full and loving life. So when his cancer returned at age 86, he said no more hospitals, no chemo. He faced the end on his own terms—something that’s not easy to do in America today. But he showed that it can be done. 

·  A two-page report that we wrote, in conjunction with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), called Palliative and Hospice Care: Comfort during a serious illness or the final months of life. You will also find a link toNHPCO's Moments of Life site on our hub.

·  Over 13 Choosing Wisely brochures on various topics for seniors, caregivers and those making end of life decisions. This includes a new six page "round-up" that we created on a variety of Choosing Wisely topics, called Advice for Caregivers: Treatments and tests for seniors. 

·  Links at the bottom of the hub to Consumer Reports magazines articles called Caring for the Caregiver, Regional Variation in Care, and Too Much Treatment. And, of course, we have a link to the Wikipedia article called "Caregiver."

As the national dialogue around caregiving and aging continues, I hope you find these materials useful and ask that you share them widely with your friends and family. 

CR will be Tweeting about these materials and today's launch, and invite you to join the conversation by following @ConsumerDavid. Below are some sample Tweets which you're welcome to use as you share this information on your own social media platforms:

For the Caregiving hub:

·  As the end approaches, what's the best care, and how do you get it? bit.ly/1tWC3eK #ChoosingWisely

·  #ChoosingWisely applies also to medical care toward the end of life. bit.ly/1tWC3eK

·  #ChoosingWisely when you're in charge of someone's care toward the end of their life. bit.ly/1tWC3eK

For the NHPCO guide:

·  This clear, new guide clarifies palliative care and hospice care.  bit.ly/1DxLjFl @NHPCO_news

·  A guide to providing comfort during serious illness or the final months. bit.ly/1DxLjFl @NHPCO_news

CRO End of Life package: 

·  A Beautiful Death: Consumer Reports' special feature on the end of life. bit.ly/1DQ488J

·  A life well-lived and thoughtfully ended: See Consumer Reports' feature on the end of life. bit.ly/1DQ488J

Anyone interested in reviewing Consumer Reports’ previously-released hubs, you can find them all here.