The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life's Final Moments

Hadley Vlahos, R.N.

Jun 2023 · Sold by Ballantine Books

About this ebook

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Passionate advocate for end-of-life care and TikTok star Hadley Vlahos shares moving stories of joy, wisdom, and redemption from her patients’ final moments in this “brilliant” (Zibby Owens, Good Morning America) memoir.
 
“This extraordinary book helps dispel fear around death and dying—revealing it to be a natural part of our soul’s evolution.”—Laura Lynne Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of Signs and The Light Between Us

Talking about death and dying is considered taboo in polite company, and even in the medical field. Our ideas about dying are confusing at best: Will our memories flash before our eyes? Regrets consume our thoughts? Does a bright light appear at the end of a tunnel? For most people, it will be a slower process, one eased with preparedness, good humor, and a bit of faith. At the forefront of changing attitudes around palliative care is hospice nurse Hadley Vlahos, who shows that end-of-life care can teach us just as much about how to live as it does about how we die.
 
Vlahos was raised in a strict religious household, but began questioning her beliefs in high school after the sudden death of a friend. When she got pregnant at nineteen, she was shunned by her community and enrolled herself in nursing school to be able to support herself and her baby. But nursing soon became more than a job: when she focused on palliative care and hospice work, it became a calling. 
 
In The In-Between, Vlahos recounts the most impactful experiences she’s had with the people she’s worked with—from the woman who never once questioned her faith until she was close to death, to the older man seeing visions of his late daughter, to the young patient who laments that she spent too much of her short life worrying about what others thought of her—while also sharing her own fascinating journey.
 
Written with profound insight, humility, and respect, The In-Between is a heartrending memoir that shows how caring for others can transform a life while also offering wisdom and comfort for those dealing with loss and providing inspiration for how to live now.

Ratings and reviews

I used to be a big reader as a kid but i have not read a full book in at least 6 years. This is by far the best book I've ever read. I just read the whole book in half a day. Hadley is not only an amazing author but a great person and this book will spark conversations in my personal life for years to come. Thank you for this amazing piece of art and please write another book! I'll be telling everyone I know to read your book

I follow Nurse Hadley on Instagram and have been waiting for this book to come out!!! I am a strong believer in the spirit world sending us signs, but I am not a believer in God. Her stories continue to confirm my beliefs. Hopefully she releases a second one with even more stories as her career grows.

Exceptional read. I couldn't put this book down. Nurse Hadley had me laughing and crying. This is the best thing I've read in a while. A MUST read even if you're not in the healthcare field.

About the author

Hadley Vlahos, RN, is a hospice registered nurse, mother, and wife. Her husband also works in the medical field as a doctor of physical therapy. Vlahos started her career as a registered nurse at twenty-two. As a hospice nurse, she now visits people at their home while also educating and sharing stories about hospice care on social media, where she has more than a million followers.