Twelve Weeks in Spring : The Inspiring Story of Margaret and Her Team

by June Callwood

A woman's seminal role in the hospice movement. Twelve Weeks in Spring is the inspiring story of a group of people who came together to help a friend battling cancer, and thereby discovered their own unexpected strength and humanity. In February 1985, 68-year-old Margaret Frazer was told by her doctor she had terminal cancer. A retired, single woman, whose family was far away, she faced a situation all too familiar in our society -- a lonely death in a sterile hospital. Margaret's lifetime of giving to others was repaid, however, when many of the people she had touched made a remarkable choice. Most of these people were strangers to each other, and sometimes even to Margaret. The Friends of Margaret developed into a smoothly functioning hospice team that cared for Margaret in the comfort of her own home. Seventeen years after its initial publication, Twelve Weeks in Spring remains a powerful and clear-sighted account of a successful experiment in palliative care.

Paperback

Published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Wendell Hennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely documentary of the final 12 weeks in the life of Margaret Frazer as 30 people band together to provide her with in home care. People from many walks of life and several organizations which Margaret had been actively involved including Holy Trinity Anglican Church, hidden behind the massive Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto. Margaret had never married and had one sister living in Florida and another sister who had disappeared years previous. Many of these care givers had previously lost family members to Cancer and had been unable to be with them so this was an emotional experience for them. Some were timid and shied away from body care issues, but all were in awe of Margaret whose determination which helped them to summon their own strength. An inspiring occurrence documented with love by June Callwood. Funds raised from the sale of Mararets house and contents went to fund the beginning of Casey House, a hospice for those dying of Aids.