To Die With Dignity
Viewing comments for Chapter 1 "To Die With Dignity"Personal essay about a physician assisted suicide
3 total reviews
Comment from Aiona
Thank you for writing this essay. I read all three parts with tense hopefulness for a positive outcome. What really got me was the frustration you felt. Like when you discovered your mom had yeeted her passport. That really hit me in the gut, because my mother and father have both done things in their elderly years that made their care SO DIFFICULT. My mother hid my father's wallet, when she learned he was dying of cancer. This prompted us to have to go to the DMV, because my father had so much anxiety about no longer having his wallet and driver's license (even though he couldn't drive), that even though he was bed-bound and on hospice, he demanded to be taken to the California DMV to get a new driver's license.... I placated him by getting him a new ID (he couldn't drive to pass the driver's test!!). And when we got there, he was upset that I didn't apply to get the new Smart ID that would allow him to fly in 2025. He was dying............. Instead of telling him he was never going to fly again, I had to calm him down by saying it would be quicker to get an ID now, and then we could upgrade to a smart ID later..... I hated lying to him, but I couldn't calm him down any other way. It's a gut-wrenching feeling. So yeah.... your passport troubles really hit me in the gut, bringing back flashbacks of that period of time with my dad. I didn't see any typos. Or if there were any, I was too engrossed in reading to notice.
  |
Thank you for writing this essay. I read all three parts with tense hopefulness for a positive outcome. What really got me was the frustration you felt. Like when you discovered your mom had yeeted her passport. That really hit me in the gut, because my mother and father have both done things in their elderly years that made their care SO DIFFICULT. My mother hid my father's wallet, when she learned he was dying of cancer. This prompted us to have to go to the DMV, because my father had so much anxiety about no longer having his wallet and driver's license (even though he couldn't drive), that even though he was bed-bound and on hospice, he demanded to be taken to the California DMV to get a new driver's license.... I placated him by getting him a new ID (he couldn't drive to pass the driver's test!!). And when we got there, he was upset that I didn't apply to get the new Smart ID that would allow him to fly in 2025. He was dying............. Instead of telling him he was never going to fly again, I had to calm him down by saying it would be quicker to get an ID now, and then we could upgrade to a smart ID later..... I hated lying to him, but I couldn't calm him down any other way. It's a gut-wrenching feeling. So yeah.... your passport troubles really hit me in the gut, bringing back flashbacks of that period of time with my dad. I didn't see any typos. Or if there were any, I was too engrossed in reading to notice.
Comment Written 27-Jan-2025
Comment from Barry Penfold
Certainly worthy as a book. You have raised an issue that is very much alive across the world. It appears there are many more obstacles in your home state than there are over in New South Wales, Australia. On saying that it is still not easy to get the approval.
To die with dignity is a very important thing for the individual.
Bravo for your raising of the issue.
Take care.
Barry Penfold.
reply by the author on 17-Jan-2025
 |
Certainly worthy as a book. You have raised an issue that is very much alive across the world. It appears there are many more obstacles in your home state than there are over in New South Wales, Australia. On saying that it is still not easy to get the approval.
To die with dignity is a very important thing for the individual.
Bravo for your raising of the issue.
Take care.
Barry Penfold.
Comment Written 08-Jan-2025
reply by the author on 17-Jan-2025
-
Hi Barry,
I posted all of it. but due to word count (8,000) I had to break it into 3 "chapters". By your response, it seems like you couldn't see all of it? Can you please LMK if that's the case?
Thank you!
-
I can access the three parts. Thanks for asking.
Comment from Michael Ludwinder
I really appreciate the raw honesty in your story. Your writing captures the desperation and deep emotional conflict so well. That is especially true with the moments where you question what's best for your mother. The tension between wanting to help and the ethical dilemma is so powerful.
It's a tough subject. You share it in a way that makes us feel what you went through. I'm going to keep reading. Keep up the incredible work!
|
I really appreciate the raw honesty in your story. Your writing captures the desperation and deep emotional conflict so well. That is especially true with the moments where you question what's best for your mother. The tension between wanting to help and the ethical dilemma is so powerful.
It's a tough subject. You share it in a way that makes us feel what you went through. I'm going to keep reading. Keep up the incredible work!
Comment Written 07-Jan-2025
