When we talk about "end of life" issues, it often involves "Do Not Resuscitate" letters, hospital ethics committees and debates over proper care of the elderly; there are intangible considerations as well such as what it means to die a "good" death by being at peace with yourself, your family and friends and whatever spiritual path you follow.

"TIME TO SAY GOODBYE" is an interfaith religion special that explores these topics with three patients of Tidewell Hospice in Sarasota, Florida, a large organization that serves four counties and hundreds of terminal patients ranging from young children to the elderly. The broadcast examines how quality of life at the end of life affects the patients-John Errett, Steven Smith and Montine Gilmore-and their families and friends.

John Errett is a 79-year-old retired business executive living with his wife, Kitty Walsh, Errett in a lovely apartment on the water in Tarpon Springs.  John has lung cancer, has been through every kind of medical treatment and wants to die at home.  One of his final objectives is selling a novel he has written about terrorism. 

Steven Smith is a 42-year-old bookbinder for the Sarasota school system who got the shocking news just a year ago that he had advanced colon cancer.  His wife Silvia, a nurse, saw him through surgery and chemotherapy and the special finds them now at a Tidewell Hospice House in Venice, Florida.  Steve died a week after the special's visit but was a congenial and funny host almost to the end of life.

Montine Gilmore is an 83-year-old great grandmother, born and raised in rural Georgia, who suffers from several potentially fatal ailments and undergoes dialysis three times a week but rides around on an electric scooter even in gale force winds.  Ms. Gilmore believes in the afterlife but is in no rush to leave this one.

Also featured on the broadcast are Dr. Stephen Leedy, Chief Medical Officer of Tidewell Hospice; Rev. Robert Green, Pastor of Ms. Gilmore's Oneco United Methodist Church; Lisa Camp, RN, Tidewell Case Manager for John Errett; and Lynn Cosgrove, RN, Case Manager for Steve Smith.

John P. Blessington is the executive producer and Ted Holmes is the producer.  The special was produced in cooperation with the National Council of Churches, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Islamic Society of North America, the Union for Reform Judaism and the New York Board of Rabbis.

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Press Contact:              Jeremy Murphy      212-975-4577       jeremy.murphy@cbs.com