A chaplain’s search for meaning in life’s hardest moments
Stories of presence, grief, and compassion from the bedside.
Available Now!
About the Book
In Stay with Me, I Want to Be Alone, Keith Wakefield invites readers into ICUs, ERs, and family waiting rooms where heartbreak and hope collide. With honesty and humor, he shares stories of patients, families, and his own struggles—showing that spiritual care isn’t about answers but about presence.
This memoir blends vivid storytelling with practical wisdom, reminding us that connection matters more than certainty.
Who it’s for:
Caregivers, chaplains, and healthcare professionals
Readers navigating grief or supporting loved ones
Anyone searching for meaning in suffering
Praise for Stay with Me I Want to Be Alone
“This impassioned, culturally astute story mosaic made me laugh and cry. The book made me want to become a chaplain!”
— Neil Wenger, MD, MPH, Chair, Ronald Reagan UCLA Ethics Committee
“Readable, relatable, and rich with wisdom… both a compelling reflection and a practical tool.”
— Rev. Gina Harvey, ACPE CE, BCC, Sanford Health
“A disarmingly honest and captivating account… I laughed, I cried, I cared deeply for all involved.”
— Vanessa Able, Founder and Editor, The Dewdrop
About the Author
Keith Wakefield is an ACPE Certified Educator and Manager of CPE Programs at UCLA Health. He has trained chaplains at Johns Hopkins, Stanford, and UCLA, and speaks internationally on empathy, existential chaplaincy, and the role of humor and humanity in healthcare.
Formats & Buying Options
"A masterclass in healing through genuine presence." —Robyn L. Hacker, PhD
In Stay with Me, I Want to Be Alone, Wakefield invites readers into the hidden world of hospital chaplaincy - where grief support, spiritual care, and the search for meaning collide. With stories that are sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes funny, and always human, he shows what it means to be fully present at the bedside of the dying.
This deeply personal spiritual memoir blends humor, vulnerability, and insight to reveal:
What chaplains really do in hospitals and at the end of life.
Practical lessons on grief, presence, and how to support others through suffering.
Honest stories that move from boredom to hilarity, panic to peace, devastating loss to unexpected grace.
Written with candor, wit, and reverence, Wakefield offers an unforgettable look at death, dying, and what the living can learn from both. Vulnerable and curious, sometimes snarky and irreverent, his lyrical voice carries the clarity and hope of a true spiritual traveler.
For readers of memoirs on grief, end-of-life care, and spiritual growth. This book belongs alongside titles by Atul Gawande, Kate Bowler, and Paul Kalanithi.
"Made me laugh, cry, and want to become a chaplain." —Neil Wenger, MD, MPH
"Seamlessly weaves memoir and chaplaincy into universal human truth." —James A. Hynds, PhD
"Brings humanity, humor, and reverence to chaplaincy." —Rev. Gina Harvey, ACPE CE, BCC
"Rare transparency... a heartfelt perspective unlike any other." —Mary D. Farah, Hospital Chaplain
"Brilliant storytelling that delights and instructs." —Angela Song, BCC
"Disarmingly honest and captivating... a vindication of spiritual care." —Vanessa Able, The Dewdrop
Read by Keith W. Wakefield
"A masterclass in healing through genuine presence." —Robyn L. Hacker, PhD
In Stay with Me, I Want to Be Alone, Wakefield invites readers into the hidden world of hospital chaplaincy - where grief support, spiritual care, and the search for meaning collide. With stories that are sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes funny, and always human, he shows what it means to be fully present at the bedside of the dying.
This deeply personal spiritual memoir blends humor, vulnerability, and insight to reveal:
What chaplains really do in hospitals and at the end of life.
Practical lessons on grief, presence, and how to support others through suffering.
Honest stories that move from boredom to hilarity, panic to peace, devastating loss to unexpected grace.
Written with candor, wit, and reverence, Wakefield offers an unforgettable look at death, dying, and what the living can learn from both. Vulnerable and curious, sometimes snarky and irreverent, his lyrical voice carries the clarity and hope of a true spiritual traveler.
For readers of memoirs on grief, end-of-life care, and spiritual growth. This book belongs alongside titles by Atul Gawande, Kate Bowler, and Paul Kalanithi.
"Made me laugh, cry, and want to become a chaplain." —Neil Wenger, MD, MPH
"Seamlessly weaves memoir and chaplaincy into universal human truth." —James A. Hynds, PhD
"Brings humanity, humor, and reverence to chaplaincy." —Rev. Gina Harvey, ACPE CE, BCC
"Rare transparency... a heartfelt perspective unlike any other." —Mary D. Farah, Hospital Chaplain
"Brilliant storytelling that delights and instructs." —Angela Song, BCC
"Disarmingly honest and captivating... a vindication of spiritual care." —Vanessa Able, The Dewdrop