This week, the Consky family is marking the third anniversary of Harvey Consky’s death, which happened on June 13, 2020. Consky, 67, was a personal injury lawyer, husband and father of two. He was diagnosed with an incurable form of anal cancer during the terrifying first few days of the COVID pandemic. Doctors gave him two months to live.
That’s when his adult son, Mitchell Consky, a journalist, decided to move back into the family home and help provide palliative care for his father until the end. Mitchell coped with his own emotions of grief, anxiety and joy in the best way he knew how: he kept notes and interviewed everyone, including his father, during those last few weeks of his life. While caregiving at home isn’t for everyone, Mitchell says, he’s glad he did it.
Now he’s sharing his own experiences and lessons in a book called Home Safe: A Memoir of End-of-Life Care during COVID-19, published by Dundurn Press. He joined Ellin Bessner for a live taping of The CJN Daily podcast at Limmud Toronto on April 30, 2023.
What we talked about
- Learn more about author Mitchell Consky and his book Home Safe, including how to order a copy
- Donate to Consky’s preferred charity for bereaved children, Camp Erin Toronto
- Read how Mitchell Consky won The CJN’s writing prize back in 2016 in The CJN
Credits
The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Zachary Kauffman is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To subscribe to this podcast, please watch this video. Donate to The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt by clicking here.
