A little more than six years ago, I got word that my sister-in-law, Carol, was diagnosed with carcinoid liver cancer. My immediate reaction was a feeling of disbelief and then helplessness, especially since I lived more than 1,000 miles from my brother’s family.
But after consulting with my wife, we agreed that the one thing we could offer Carol, even from so far away, was touch therapy. We located a practitioner in her area who specialized in oncology massage and end-of-life care. Christi, the massage practitioner, was patient, compassionate, and understanding of Carol’s situation.     
Carol was only 52 years old when she passed away, but I have faith that the massage Christi provided helped ease Carol’s pain—as well as her family’s pain—even for just the brief period of time it takes to receive massage.
I hope you enjoy Cindy Williams’s article “The Heart Knows No Wrinkles” in this issue. It’s a wonderful, heartfelt piece about the value of touch for those who are suffering, specifically the elderly in our lives who so often do not receive the touch that can offer comfort and relief.