Fernandez, Elizabeth Ann: - Listening to the call of her heart from an early age, the author chose to pursue a life's work based on what she loved. From as early as age six she was passionate about animals and medicine. By age eight she was clear that she would be a veterinarian. After graduating from veterinary school in 1982 she worked in emergency medicine for many years. This experience, and the loss of both parents within a few years of graduating formed a foundation for seeing an abundance of end of life scenarios and the ensuing emotional challenges. In late 2001, trusting the voice within to guide her, she was inspired to study Chinese Veterinary Medicine. Over a period of several years she transitioned from the intensity of western emergency medicine to the intimacy of holistic housecall and acupuncture practice. The patient demographic of this type of practice lends itself to the geriatric patient. Thus the emphasis on end of life narratives. During this same time she was introduced to Adyashanti, a spiritual teacher with no specific religious affiliation, who offered a very clear and simple perspective about death. Resonating with these deep truths she began to share this wisdom with clients. Most often words would simply flow unbidden from her lips finding a receptive ear that would immediately find comfort and resonance with the truth of what had been spoken. Witnessing these occurrences, she began to reiterate these ideas with others, to the same effect. It was some time after that, that she found herself surrounded more and more with clients searching for ways to navigate these end of life issues. The volume of these situations brought with it much sadness. After some soul searching she asked what this sadness wanted of her. The answer that came through was that this book wanted to be written. As if to reenforce this, more than one client literally shared with her that she should write a book! So it became evident that this book was to be birthed. www.lizfernandezdvm.com