A window into the relationship of Eliott and Chris, as they navigate the most critical point
in their lives.

Eliott writes, "While caring for Chris, my husband of sixteen years, as he died at home of pancreatic cancer, I kept a journal of the tender, inspiring and often humorous conversations we shared. A Finished Heart is my performance of these actual dialogues, combined with narrative, poetry and a musical score."

"To be able to laugh in the face of dire circumstances is a gift, and you provided that for us amidst eloquent poetry, beautiful music and pithy dialogue." Wil Kilroy, Actor/Director, University of Southern Maine

University event planners may wonder:

A Finished Heart reveals an experience of dying. Mortality is a difficult subject. Will students want to engage with this?

But also ask, do students want to engage with love? The answer, to be sure, is "yes."

A Finished Heart is followed by discussion with the audience.

This is an excellent opportunity to introduce students to counseling staff, who may wish to facilitate.

A Proven Model for Colleges
​and Universities:

Providing value across disciplines such as nursing, social work, education and psychology, A Finished Heart provides unique opportunities to build and inspire audiences.

​At the University of Maine, Orono, the following departments reached out to students and faculty:

• School of Nursing
• School of Social Work
• Education and Human Development
• Psychology
• Communication and Journalism
• School of Performing Arts
• Center on Aging
• Employee Assistance Program
• Men's and Women's Centers and Theology Departments would be excellent additions to this list.

A Finished Heart invokes the power of  narrative medicine:

​"It will increase empathy and cultural competency, leading to improved health care quality" Timothy J. Richardson, MD, VA Maine Healthcare System

"this powerful piece allowed us to learn from a narrative of experience, gave us insights that we might not otherwise uncover and opened important dialogues" Susan B. Sepples RN, CCRN, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Southern Maine School of Nursing

"a real life view of many concepts with which we deal frequently in social work classes: self-determination; loss; love, including same-sex love; relationships; negotiation; death; spirituality; empowerment; self-care; and authenticity." Sandy Butler, PhD, Professor of Social Work, University of Maine, Orono

A Finished Heart impresses you with the value of being vibrantly aware of mortality. We cannot know when and how these experiences will occur: giving and receiving care, dying and living with loss. Take this unusual opportunity to empathize with real experience through live, dramatic expression and discussion:
• to pose questions one cannot normally ask;
• to be present for a depth of intimacy that is rarely shared with the outside world;
• and to be inspired by the emotional gifts we receive from intimate relationships.​

For students who, themselves, are in the throes of similar challenges, this is a chance to build community -- to feel and be reminded that we are not alone.

​Dear Students,​

​Please join me in this beautiful story that will expand your connections with each other and with profound aspects of life. It is a great honor to present A Finished Heart to all those who enter the world of Chris and Eliott and who may share their own stories with generosity and trust.

Sincerely,

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