Review #98
Expanded from an essay in The New England Journal of Medicine, this beautifully written, heartwarming memoir centers on Oscar, a seemingly ordinary house cat with the ability to sense when nursing home patients are within hours of dying. Oscar snuggles with the patient and family members until the patient passes. His mere presence at the bedside is viewed by physicians and nursing-home staff as an almost absolute indicator of impending death, considered a blessing because it allows staff members at Steere House to notify families that the end is near and because he provides companionship to those who would otherwise have died alone.
Most of the patients under geriatric doctor. David Dosa's care are in the final stages of Alzheimer's disease, and depictions of Oscar's interactions with them take us into the difficult world faced by their families, friends, and caregivers.
Dosa, ever the scientist, is at first, skeptical. He decides to talk with relatives of some of the patients visited by Oscar and slowly, he starts to concede that there may be something special about this cat. He discovers how powerfully Oscar's mere presence reassures frightened or grieving family. Ultimately, the good doctor realizes that it doesn't matter where Oscar's gift comes from; it's the comfort he brings that's important. Told with profound insight and great respect for all involved, this is more than just a cat story, this inspiring guide is for anyone touched by Alzheimer's or terminal illness
This touching and engaging book is a must-read for more than just cat lovers; anyone who enjoys a well-written and compelling story will find much to admire in its unlikely hero.
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