AN author has passed away after bravely battling dementia for years and left a final message announcing her own death.
In a posthumous post shared online, the author revealed how she had taken the decision to refuse to eat or drink anymore.
"Who would have thought, when diagnosed all those years ago, that my life would turn out quite as it did? I’ve always liked to have a plan, something that makes me feel in control of dementia." "For those that have read my book, One Last Thing, you will understand why I feel so strongly about assisted dying. The only legal choice we shouldn’t have in life is when to be born; for everything else, we, as humans, should have a choice; a choice of how we live and a choice of how we die.
The last cuppa tea…my final hug in a mug, the hardest thing to let go of, much harder than the food I never craved…This wasn’t decided on a whim of self pity as you’ll discover by reading on. Sadly assisted dying isn’t an option in this country. With something that will affect 100% of the population, regardless of wealth, intelligence or ethnicity, it’s amazing how such little value is placed on the act of dying. For those that have read my book, One Last Thing, you will understand why I feel so strongly about assisted dying.
To feel I had some control over the future makes the business of living so much easier. To talk about death makes it easier to concentrate on living. Through writing my last book, I spoke to many amazing people, both in favour of assisted dying, against it, but also those in palliative care. Many of those specialists believe we should concentrate on providing gold standard palliative care.
To die later surely means to need more medical intervention. Everyone but our governments have seen this happening. Dying has been ignored, swept under the proverbial carpet. The choice of assisted dying could be the answer to so many people who actually don’t want to exist when medicine can keep them alive.
I was hoping to go there at the beginning of the year. However, my plans were turned upside down when I had my fall, breaking both my wrists and revealing damage to my neck and spine. I would no longer be confident to travel alone to Switzerland. Are they spent in confusion, of wondering why he’s there? Does he like being totally reliant on others? Would his former self have chosen this ending to his life? These questions can never be answered, of course, but I’ve taken the decision to answer them for me now, while I’m able.
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