Facing the end of life is not a matter of if-it is a matter of when. Yet most people avoid the conversations, decisions, and preparations that would spare their loved ones confusion, conflict, and unnecessary suffering. In It's Not If, It's When, Lynn Fitzgerald Macksey-an anesthesia clinician with decades of experience caring for patients and families at their most vulnerable moments-offers a clear, compassionate, and practical guide to navigating the realities we will all eventually face.
Drawing on real clinical experience, Macksey explains what truly matters in the final phase of life: understanding your medical options, making informed choices, documenting your wishes, and communicating them before a crisis occurs. With calm authority and deep empathy, she demystifies advance directives, life-support decisions, palliative care, hospice, and the medical processes that families often encounter without preparation.
This book is not about fear-it is about agency, clarity, and love.
It empowers readers to:
- Understand the medical and legal decisions that shape end-of-life care
- Communicate wishes clearly to family and healthcare teams
- Reduce emotional and financial burdens on loved ones
- Prepare for the final chapter with intention, dignity, and peace
Whether you are planning for yourself, caring for aging parents, or supporting someone with a serious illness, It's Not If, It's When offers the guidance every family needs but rarely receives. This is the handbook for living well by preparing wisely for the end.
About the Author :
Lynn Fitzgerald Macksey is a practicing CRNA in North Carolina and has provided care to neonates, pediatrics, geriatrics, vascular, neuro, thoracic, GYN, GU, endoscopy, general, orthopedic, neurosurgery, cardiac ablations, and Level I trauma. She is the author of numerous educational reference materials and textbooks and was awarded first place in the 2017 AJN (American Journal of Nursing) Book of the Year Awards in the Critical Care/Emergency Nursing category.She is a gifted speaker and educator, having led and delivered seminars on topics ranging from Advanced EKG to Valve Disorders and Anesthetic Implications. Lynn is the driving force behind "Education Adventures for CRNAs," our seminar business. In addition to her textbooks, Lynn has published multiple research monographs in the AANA Journal. She is also active professionally, having served in several roles in state and national associations.
Review :
"Beautifully written and profoundly insightful. After 45 years in oncology, palliative care, and hospice, I found this book speaks to both the emotional and medical realities of dying. It helps readers navigate healthcare, understand meaning, and approach end-of-life with clarity and compassion."
- Karen Cammarata, RN, MSN, FNP-C
"This book opens the door to essential conversations most families avoid. With the insight of a seasoned critical-care nurse, Lynn Macksey offers compassionate, practical guidance that helps loved ones understand values, prepare for decisions, and find comfort in knowing a family member's wishes before a crisis."
- Sandra Sullivan, APRN-C
