tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post6776521881185851615..comments2023-10-10T05:08:34.827-05:00Comments on A Crockhead Abroad: I Am Afraid Of One ThingCrockheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410758631825372736noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-72281381197000029002015-07-23T22:19:17.659-05:002015-07-23T22:19:17.659-05:00Aggressive palliation is the approach some hospice...Aggressive palliation is the approach some hospices take. They aggressively treat painful and distressing symptoms with potent medications without regard for whether these treatments shorten life. There are potent medications with black box warnings that will reduce the distress associated with the kind of dementia I think you are referring to. I suspect you have already had discussions with medical professionals about these issues. I admire your philosophical approach to your circumstances and I hope that you will have good aggressive palliative care when the time comes. JLFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16160029560791897049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-86193128090816154212015-07-19T21:50:34.768-05:002015-07-19T21:50:34.768-05:00John,
Merianne and I have thought about the issue...John,<br /><br />Merianne and I have thought about the issue of how to manage our end-of-life situations when they happen. The awareness that each of us may be in a condition where it would be merciful to choose to end our life, arose when we were updating our estate plan. I think that it's a good idea nowadays for everyone to think about how they would manage their impending death, since medical technology has advanced so much that one can be kept alive now in a state which would have caused death even in the recent past. I hope that the issue of giving choice to a dying person about how to end their life without interference from those who are not a party to such decision, will continue to be discussed among those in the medical and ethical professions of this country.<br /><br />It is indeed difficult to plan for managing one's end of life because one simply does not know how it will unfold. The book that I've found most helpful when considering this is "Final Exit" by Derek Humphry, a very compassionate man who has much wisdom. I've read some of it, and plan to read all of it at some point. Though difficult to read, it does give insight into how to face one's impending mortality.<br /><br />And when we meet again, I'll tell you the story of my mother's final days. The process turned out to be a blessing for her and those around her. It was due in large part to her nurse who was specially trained in palliative care, who I think is the most important caregiver in one's final days of a terminal illness.<br /><br />Namaste, and looking forward to seeing you again,<br /><br />Robin<br />rtshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02650179702689087476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-57605875913701717232015-07-18T21:04:02.567-05:002015-07-18T21:04:02.567-05:00John,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Your bold ...John,<br />Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Your bold musings are ideas we often push aside. Better to write grocery lists and write letters to our congress representatives. Well, more useful to do the former, perhaps. <br />Washington State has a similar law to Belgium and a close friend of mine made the choice, with doctor concurrence that she would not recover from cancer. I don't think people are abusing this right but are given time, counseling, and lots of support along the way to making a decision.<br />Hey, hope to see you in October. And I am so glad you are feelin' good. Hot damn!<br />Jean Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-12405249096446270162015-07-15T10:34:52.066-05:002015-07-15T10:34:52.066-05:00Hi, John,
End of life decisions are highly pers...Hi, John, <br /><br />End of life decisions are highly personal. <br /><br />With that said, euthanasia is an option available in Oregon now. One would need to pre-plan this sort of thing. E.g., one needs to possess mentally capacity when making arrangements with the doctor and there is the travel thing too. This option is an alternative to the prevalent medical practice of making one "comfortable" while "nature takes its' course." <br /><br />I think of you every day. <br /><br />Your friend, <br /><br />NickNickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18270665440359089261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-14754078020829984142015-07-15T08:24:53.978-05:002015-07-15T08:24:53.978-05:00John, Rachel's brother died of brain cancer ba...John, Rachel's brother died of brain cancer back around 1990. His quality of life was quite good up to the end. There wasn't a long period of the body lingering with no mind. He had a couple of surgeries and quite a bit of chemo and radiation therapy. <br /><br />Looking forward to talking more with you about politics and whatever else seems right...Bob Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10254649829957551465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-60297850069259266072015-07-14T19:55:12.024-05:002015-07-14T19:55:12.024-05:00I am afraid of dementia, too. I totally get what y...I am afraid of dementia, too. I totally get what you are saying. I know that somehow it will all be okay. You can call me crazy, since I have no rational right to that opinion, but I am sure of it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14931842970636402162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-66364516720610252492015-07-14T10:44:19.272-05:002015-07-14T10:44:19.272-05:00John, you are clearly experiencing what nearly all...John, you are clearly experiencing what nearly all humans come to question at some point "how will we die?" Please continue to rage against those incomprehensible moments and that terrible tumor but continue to seek medical intervention, pursue your love for life and the company and support of all your loving community. <br />You have been living a good life, as in the words of Thoreau:<br /> Live each season as it passes;<br /> breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, <br /> and resign yourself to the influences of each. <br />Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00903328289970781681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-92068977924769337062015-07-14T09:14:12.220-05:002015-07-14T09:14:12.220-05:00Well said. One thing that makes these decisions s...Well said. One thing that makes these decisions so difficult is that these things don't typically move in a straight line. You'll have good days and bad days. Eventually, the good days will become more rare and the bad days will predominate, but at what point do you give up hope of one more good day? These are very tough situations.Miltonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15846426.post-14571646132513862702015-07-14T09:02:22.079-05:002015-07-14T09:02:22.079-05:00AMEN!!!!!AMEN!!!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14347083992857127441noreply@blogger.com