Abigail’s Guide to Dying Better: A Nurse’s Heartfelt Take on Living and Dying with Purpose

When it comes to death and dying, many of us try to avoid the topic, waiting until it shows up uninvited. It can be uncomfortable and terrifying, to face the inevitable, but Abigail, a seasoned nurse with 20 years of experience, is here to change that. With over 15 years in hospice and palliative care, she wants to normalize the conversation about death, helping both caregivers and loved ones navigate the often daunting, emotional, and awkward terrain of end-of-life care.

Abigail’s recently published book, Everybody’s Doing It, So Let’s Die Better, is a refreshing and honest guide for those who might not know where to begin when it comes to dying, whether you're currently in the trenches of caregiving, preparing for the loss of someone you love, or simply trying to face your own mortality without panicking. Through her years of experience, she’s discovered that dying doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom, it can be approached with empathy, humor, and a little bit of lightness.

A Nurse Who Knows the Terrain of Death and Dying

With two decades in clinical care, Abigail has seen firsthand the range of emotions and challenges that come with caring for someone at the end of their life. For the past 15 years, she’s worked in hospice and palliative care, an area that often doesn’t get the attention it deserves until it’s too late. But what Abigail has learned is that death is a natural part of life, and it’s time we started treating it as such.

“We need to normalize conversations about death and dying because we all share this aspect of life. It’s part of life and gives our life the meaning we crave. Let’s talk and learn about it because we do have some agency over how we die. We don’t have to like it; in fact you are healthy if you fear death. My hope is to assuage your fears to a degree, so you can feel more confident and comfortable about this phase and transition in your life.”

In her book, Abigail shares the lessons she’s learned through both her professional and personal experiences, offering a candid approach to the process of dying, complete with humor and heart. She introduces readers to her quirky “mentor,” Auntie Death, a metaphorical figure who helps guide caregivers and loved ones through the emotional and sometimes awkward moments that arise when caring for someone near the end of their life.

A Little Humor Goes a Long Way

Abigail’s approach is unique in that she doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff, but she also uses humor as a tool to break down the walls of discomfort surrounding the subject of death. As someone who has spent years in end-of-life care, she knows how important it is to find moments of levity, even when facing the most difficult situations.

Throughout Everybody’s Doing It, So Let’s Die Better, readers will find moments of deep reflection alongside humorous anecdotes, all designed to help normalize the process of dying. She discusses “the oh crap moments” that happen in emergency rooms, how to manage grief, and the crucial need for caregivers to care for themselves.

Healing Happens Even When Curing No Longer Can

One of the most powerful messages in Abigail’s book is that healing isn’t just about physical cures, it’s about emotional, spiritual, and relational healing. Throughout her career, she has seen firsthand how people can experience deep healing even as their physical bodies decline. Her work focuses not just on the patient, but on the caregivers as well, recognizing that the toll caregiving takes on individuals can be immense.

"Caregiving is a journey, and it’s important to recognize that it can be both heartbreaking and beautiful," Abigail explains. "We don’t just need to prepare for death, we need to prepare for life’s final chapters in a way that brings meaning, peace, and connection."

Her book serves as a heartfelt guide for anyone who finds themselves caring for someone at the end of their life. It’s a manual for living well, even in the face of mortality, and it emphasizes the importance of making the most of the time you have, whether that’s with a loved one or in your own life.

A Call for Real Conversations About Death

Abigail’s message is clear: it’s time we stop avoiding the conversation about death and start exploring it. For caregivers, family members, and friends of those facing the end of life, this book offers a rare blend of guidance, support, and humor. It’s a reminder that while death may be inevitable, we can choose to approach it in a way that brings dignity, meaning, and connection.

“Everyone is doing it, dying, that is,” Abigail says with a smile. “So why not die better? Let’s face it with humor, compassion, and the courage to have real conversations.”

Ready to Start Dying Better?

If you're a caregiver, someone facing the loss of a loved one, or even just someone who wants to face their own mortality with more grace, humor, and understanding, Abigail’s book is the resource you didn’t know you needed.

You can explore more about Abigail’s work and purchase Everybody’s Doing It, So Let’s Die Better through her website and Linktree.

Let’s not wait until it’s too late to talk about death. Let’s do it better, together.