The art of saying goodbye: Isabel Stenzel Byrnes at TEDxStanford

Isabel Stenzel Byrnes is a bereavement social worker at Sutter Care at Home and Mission Hospice, and holds master of social work and master of public health degrees. She has lived with cystic fibrosis for 42 years and received a double-lung transplant 10 years ago at Stanford Hospital. She describes her illness journey as an invitation for opportunities to serve as an international patient advocate and to lecture on topics such as living well with illness, end-of-life issues and organ donation. Together with her twin sister, Anabel, she published the memoir The Power of Two, which inspired the creation of a documentary film of the same title. For fun, she plays the bagpipes to celebrate her lung donor.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[lynnemanning]

WOW! WOW! WOW! ISABEL 💟‼💟 SO MUCH WISDOM, SO MUCH LOVE, SO MUCH COMPASSION TO SHARE WITH OTHERS‼🤗🤗🤗
The ABSOLUTE BEST talk about grief....You have fantastically made so much out of your grief and suffering, and that will forever help others...Much Love and Joy to You 💟☯☮🕉💟

[rosecabral]

Thank you for leaving this wisdom behind for us to find.

[daniellerall]

Isabel, if you ever read this, you should know that your soul is so incredibly beautiful and that you have touched many people deeply. Thank you for your insights on grief and sharing with the world. You have successfully turned your pain into purpose and it is my wish that all of us living with grief and pain may do the same. Thank you!

[lacosa]

I lost my Mother 5 months ago to cancer, and each day is such a struggle... If you're reading this and you've lost someone you love, I am so very sorry. God bless.

[artur]

I lost my mother due lung cancer two days ago. She was the kindest person in my life and now all I can feel is a void in my chest.
I miss her so much.

I love you mom, thank you for everything.

[xxbearzxx]

I just lost my father. Best Ted I've ever seen or heard. Thank you

[trentf]

Such a wonderful way to remember her donor.

[PaigeDavis-dfhh]

Thank you. This link was sent to me by my daughter. Today we are going to say goodbye to my sister Leanne. She entered hospice 5 days ago. I am so glad I watched you before I gathered with my family. Thank You ❤️

[ElevatingHope]

A beautiful touching way to honor Xavier and he still lives on

[tagnpt]

I lost my brother 2 weeks ago. I know this painful process is just beginning. Blessings to everyone here.

[susgra]

Simple title for a deep, heartfelt Talk. Perhaps most impressive is that someone with CFS can play a wind instrument at all!

[Urania]

"...all of our loved ones can remain eternally present in absence, so then perhaps we don't have to say goodbye after all."

[danielleopremcak]

I just lost my 5 week old son. This talk helped provide some insight into how to navigate the heartbreaking pain I’ve been living with since my baby died. Thank you.

[AshStar]

This was powerful and made an impact. Thank you for sharing your lessons, and thank you for sharing about your friends and your dear sister. <3 to you.

[katehtun]

It does take a brave person to love. Loving is hard especially when we are left behind by our loved one. After loosing my loved ones, I thought I will never love or be attached to people or pets but no, I think that would be a coward way to live.
I will never be defeated. As long as I live, I will love as much as I can.

[pattystober]

You are amazing Isabel. I have been a severe asthmatic all of my life and feel so fortunate that I am able to catch my breath due to new biological drugs that are available. I am so sorry that you lost your twin. My journey over the last 60 years has been challenging but I'm still here. And the bagpipes... well they just make me cry. I'm so very sorry for your loss.

[katso]

Very touching, very wise. Incredible talk, incredible woman!

[johncahill]

So beautiful. I lost my mother 9th September 2019 and 5 months later I struggle everyday with the loss and shock. Often trying to make sense of it all. The story you have shared is what it’s all about. Thank you for this gift and you are truly an inspiration to us all. God bless

[TheAtrain]

Everyone should watch this. And I mean EVERYONE.

[veliaguzman]

Lost my brother, cancer. I am still in the process of saying goodbye. Thank you for your Ted talk.