Today, I’m talking with Dr. Tom McNalley.

THIS is a tough one. But it’s so beautiful, and I think it’s one we all need to hear, maybe more now than ever.

Tom and I talk today about difficult diagnosis’, living with illness and disease, and how to listen and love each other through it.

Tom is a pediatric palliative care doctor, and I had so many questions for him. Like what is palliative care? Does it mean someone is dying anytime soon? (no, no it doesn’t) Is it the same as hospice care? (no, no it’s not) And how can we all take care of each other, and really listen to what our loved ones need and want.

It’s hard to talk about disease and the journeys we are on without acknowledging and talking about death. We talk about things like “we’re all dying” and the question of “why are we afraid of death?”

This conversation was uncomfortable for me at so many moments – these are tough, raw topics. But it was also peaceful and hopeful. Tom has a way of making it so.

Please don’t be afraid of this conversation. Listen and share and maybe listen again. Because at the end of the day, we can’t always avoid illness and disease and even death. But with people like Dr. Tom McNalley by our side, we can face the tough stuff with a focus on how we live in whatever time we have. And isn’t that the way it should be? Wouldn’t that be beautiful if that’s how we all approached life? Every single day? Illness or not? Disease or no disease.

Tom shares how we can also focus on caring for each other. After spending this time with him, it left me wondering and feeling pretty sure that the greatest medicines we have are compassion and love.