Betsy MacGregor, M.D.
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betsy macgregor md, book, death, dying, end-of-life care, hospice, doctors' stories, doctors' experiences

"What a gift it was to be with so many others who loved and celebrated you yesterday afternoon to launch your brilliant, absorbing, and deeply poignant book! I couldn't have been moved more by your telling of these remarkable stories—these ordinary, yet extraordinary people who not only touched you years ago, but who are clearly still with you, in your heart, to this day—and now in our hearts as well. Here's to the extraordinary woman you are and to the myriad gifts you continue to offer all whose lives you touch!" ~ EM   

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"A truly inspirational book. You set a GOLD standard for compassion, caring, love as part of being a physician. The book should be required reading for med students. Your returning an "I love you" to Denise in her last hours, and postponing your medical career for Erling, show how your compassion is part of you. I feel the world is a better place due to having a Dr. Betsy MacGregor." ~ GB

"Today, I attended the Volunteer Luncheon for Harrison Hospital at the Convention Center in Bremerton. I read your book prior to the luncheon, so I would be prepared and understand your talk.
I am so humbled by your stories. They had a powerful and profound impact on me. The writing was so beautiful and poetic.
I am so grateful to have been introduced to you via your book and consequent appearance at the luncheon. You are a gift to the world. Thank you." 
~ DT

"Dr. MacGregor, you are one of my heroes, the type of physician that I have aspired to be. Now that my wife has finished the book I’m mailing it to my granddaughter, a second-year peds resident in Houston. Thank you for this." ~ DP
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"Your book is truly one of the most heart felt, heart opening and heart filling books I have read.  Thank you for the tears of appreciation throughout." ~ BL

"I just wanted to tell you how much I am enjoying your book. It is beautifully and very sensitively written and very moving. I am taking my time with it, contrary to my usual style of speed reading, because I want to savor it. I wish it could be made required reading for every medical student! It also made me realize how much is going on in each one of us that we rarely share with one another. " ~ IB

"I am absolutely enthralled with Betsy's deeply moving book. I plan to purchase more copies for our medical friends and those who are close to them. Betsy is not only a compelling storyteller, she is a wonderful writer. Her use of language is so rich and her descriptions so engaging, I feel like I'm walking right alongside her on her rounds. (And you can quote me anywhere you wish!)" ~ NM

"Your book, your reading and you are utterly divine, Betsy. I was transported, as was everyone there today. Your writing manages to command our attention but then allows us to look where you are pointing, not at the finger pointing. Really masterful." ~ VR


"I think your book has two big purposes: 1) providing good company as people think about their own dying and the dying of those they know and love as the book helps us know the vulnerability and strength at the core of our humanity; and
2) helping to create a more appropriate conversation about health care policy and practices as the book helps us to shift our attitudes toward each other and toward death." ~ SP

"Many thanks for your service to our community and to your patients in years past.  Your stories are powerful and inspiring.  Best wishes with the book as it opens doors for you to share your experiences with those who are ready to hear them." ~ W + S

"Dear Betsy, I am so moved by your book and would like to get three more - every story is graced by the wisdom you have gained from your work and experience." ~ AW

"Betsy, your presentation was wonderful, as expected. I am almost finished with the book. The stories are so open, so honest, so poignant. It's good to know the medical field is paying attention to the need for adding compassion to the science!" ~ AS

"I truly love your book. I couldn't put it down. It's such a wonderful, moving, and inspiring book in many ways. Thank you so much for writing it. Each person you write about--Hector, James, Migdalia, Katherine--is incredible and so tenderly portrayed. The development of the book from your training days is so interesting--a great perspective that I had not read before. I really love how you share so candidly and how you learned from each patient. It is inspiring to read about extreme, 'real' serious issues and problems more severe and of urgent need. This book is a gift." ~N

"Hi Betsy and Charles; my name is Holly Avery; I actually ordered 8 copies of your book recently; I am in Scottsdale and my husband just passed away; he had cancer of prostate and also had Alzheimer. It was your book that kind of helped me through that, I work in the cardiology area and it really was helpful to have and look at some of your cases and just the way your soul percolates on all these things its very helpful and soulful. I ordered many copies and in fact I’m ordering one for the library in Scottsdale for the memory center there; one of my dear friends an oncology nurse heard your talk at HOV and you signed a book for her; and when I was going through this she said I have just the book for you and truly in his last stages I was with him for his last breath which was a lovely thing? I just wanted to tell you this because your book makes a difference in the world and I’m passing it on to some of the health care nurse; I will give you lots of recommendations because I think it should be part of libraries everywhere…Anyway thank you I'm good to go with your book…." ~ HA

"Your book is quite the page turner. I LOVE it. So much love and wisdom contained in your stories and beautifully expressed heart. Wow." ~ CC

"Dear Betsy,
Just finished reading your wonderful book! Thank you so much for sharing the wisdom you learned from your career in healing! I marked passages I want to re-read of special meaning to me… What a blessing you were to your patients!" ~ MS

"I just read your book, In Awe of Being Human. It’s magnificent! (I’m an RN here in New York and I would like to order three copies of the book.) Thank you so much and my very best wishes to you." ~ MC

"I am fortunate to have a copy of In Awe of Being Human. What impressed me most as I read, is Betsy's clear choice to see people not as objects or diseases, but as beautiful, complicated, vulnerable and wise human beings. Her stories resonate with the beauty of that choice." ~ NN
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"We met at a cancer conference in April. I'm the 15-year brain tumor survivor who spoke to you in a small group on Sunday afternoon and felt a lovely connection with you. I hope we connect again. Thank you so much for your healing work in the world." ~ JW

"I've just finished your book and am sitting here in awe of so many things--from your dedication to connecting with the souls of your patients, to your amazing powers of observation and perception, to your beautiful, poetic prose. So much more could be said, about your contributions to healing and human understanding, but what strikes me most profoundly is that you have delivered (just popped in!)* to the world a highly valuable portrait of the life of a truly awakened soul. Thank you for bringing your light into our world." ~ NS

"What a beautiful event, celebration, meditation your book launch was today. Kate and I were so happy to be there to hear your exquisite stories and the music, and experience the love and admiration for you in the room. Very moving." ~ AW

"Just a quick note to wish you and Betsy a fantastic book launch this evening. I really wish I could be there, especially since I am absolutely enthralled with Betsy's deeply moving book.  I plan to purchase more copies for our medical friends and those who are close to them. Betsy is not only a compelling story teller, she is a wonderful writer. Her use of language is so rich and her descriptions so engaging, I feel like I'm walking right alongside her on her rounds." ~ NM

"I immediately connected with your book as a therapeutic musician, playing harp in service of healing for hospice and hospital patients. Your stories rang true, sang, and touched me deeply. I am moved to write to you to express my gratitude for your work, your teachings, your wisdom, your poetry. Your book reads as a ballad--a song of a heroic journey that continues touching and changing each person who hears it." ~JF

"Thank you dear Betsy and Charles for a perfectly lovely book launch. The time was inspiring, moving, wrenching - giving me pause to relish silence and to invite myself into much deeper reflections on the blessings of life, friends and all that graces this world. I so appreciate your work to bring these stories to life, and thus to make each person's gift of life ripple through so many communities. Your generous spirits warm my soul. Big hugs to you both!" ~ TA


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