14 Days: A Mother, A Daughter, A Two Week Goodbye

"14 Days: A mother, A Daughter, A Two Week Goodbye" is a poignant love letter from a daughter to a mother that captures the sad and yet joyfull ride that is the circle of life.

This is such a well written story, and meaningful to me as I am of the same generation as Lisa with an elderly mother, having experienced the loss of my father 6 years ago. I empathized well with her emotions throughout the book, and how emotionally draining those last days were to the family. Each member had his/her own role, and after the initial "clashing", it seems that everyone started to pull together....I found this to be true in my own experience also, and as the saying goes, "courage shows up when you need it"....and it did for Lisa, and also did for me. Her descriptions of going back to her childhood home were so well done; I especially enjoyed the parts in which she talks about her father's ways, his idiosyncracies, his likes and dislikes, which made him seem rather stern and remote, but underneath all of the rough exterior, he was his wife's loving and devoted life partner, and that showed through more and more as the "two week goodbye" went on. I feel that Mitch Albom's tribute to Millie was very beautifully done and added much insight into the type of person Millie was and how she lived her life. In my opinion, I found her autobiographical account of her own life very inspiring, and serves as an example of how each of us should strive to live our own lives; reminders of what really is most important in life, the little things and also the bigger things that will stay with those left behind forever.

This book is a gift to anyone who has ever witnessed a loved one through the process of dying over a period of time. Lisa Goich captured perfectly, the thoughts, the feelings, the love, the bravery of a loving and close family as she helped to prepare her mother for her transition to a new life. If one has ever had a similar experience, this book is for you. Lisa has managed to put feelings into words as she and her family made this journey with her beloved mother, Millie Goich. She will make you giggle, she will make you cry! You will come to the realization that every day, every hour and every minute of every day is a true gift! So,order your copy of this book, then get in your fuzzy p.j.'s and your slippers, cuddle up on the couch with some Faygo "pop" and cookies. Within minutes you will be in a lovely little brick house on the corner of Newport Street, sitting among this precious Goich family! I promise you, you will not want to leave!

Lisa's book about Millie's last days was given to me as a gift by a dear friend at Christmas. My own mother died very suddenly 21 years ago, and I admit that I delayed reading this - what could it do for me besides make me sad or even envioius? Well, I was wrong, and my friend Wendy was right, and Lisa is a master at telling this story of letting go, embracing death, loving your family dearly, and giving you a treasured glimpse into their humor and tenderness. If found myself pacing my reading with each of those final days of Millie's earthly life and looking forward to what LIsa would share. I highly recommend this for anyone who is going through, has gone through, or might be nervous about losing a loved one. It made me joyful about what my mom may be experiencing now, about our mother-daughter relationship, and about family and friend relationships. Well done, good and faithful daughter.

Thank you for sharing your memorable and moving heart felt days with us. As I read this story I was touched by your words, and found myself thinking about memories of my own mother.

Lisa Goich's writing and storytelling draw you in immediately and you feel like you are part of her family. This book is so relatable, funny, poignant, sad, and healing. As someone who has lost her dad and sat by that bedside in the hospital knowing the inevitable end, it is something you can never prepare for, but as she writes "I often wondered how this particular movie would end," so did I. I love this book and you will too. It is so comforting and though it is something we all must go through (ideally - we don't want our parents to lose us first) in our own way alone, walking through it with someone else makes you feel that much less alone. Bravo Lisa Goich for an amazing read. Thank you.

I loved every word written in this book! If you have experienced the passing of a parent this will surely tug at your heart strings in a good way. Stirring memories I thought I had forgotten after 14 years. I laughed out loud and felt my tears well in my eyes a roll down my cheeks too! I connected on so many levels with Lisa from childhood memories to family aguements. 14 Days will forever remain a favorite read because it touched my heart in a way I can't explain. Thank you Lisa for putting it all out there!!

The thing that struck me most about this little gem is it's honesty: not brutal honesty, but a day-to-day matter-of-fact-ness that stands in stark contrast to the sad and inevitable situation. It's a loving eulogy for a loving mother and a realistic portrayal of hospice. It's not shy, coy, nor maudlin, and it doesn't surround the story with a buffer zone of undue propriety. Rather, it's simply real in its coverage of the contrasting emotions, bits of selfishness, and, ultimately, conquering love that plays out during a two-week goodbye. Thanks, Lisa, for sharing so openly and bravely.

A very moving account of the final days of her mother's life. I recommend this book especially for those who have lost a loved one.

Quick, easy to read book. Very sad if you have lost your mother but inspiring at the same time.