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In reply to the discussion: Update: My Father-in-Law has ended his life [View all]calimary
(81,610 posts)You worded that SO well. I went through that with my mom, my dad, AND my mother-in-law. That sweet, sweet lady. Watched her mind go before her body followed. It was just so - well, YOU put it perfectly, BrotherIvan - AGONIZING. Broke my heart to see her fade away like that - she sure didn't deserve it. It broke my heart to see my mom and my dad - in extreme physical deterioration by the time each of them died. You KNEW they didn't want to be there anymore. You KNEW they yearned for release. You could see it in their faces - and, before each of them lapsed into a comatose state, in their eyes. And there was NOTHING we could do, except watch them suffer.
Much love and sympathy to you, brooklynite. I know from bitter experience that YOU didn't deserve this either - this kind of parting. It's just so miserable having to watch that play out, with someone who's that close to you and about whom you care that much. I hope the "Death with Dignity" option spreads. I don't want ANYBODY to go through what I had to go through - and I was the lucky one who just watched and attended, and reached the point where I didn't know what to pray for anymore. I could only imagine what it was like for each of them as they faded slowly away. I kept wishing there was a way to relieve their pain. My mother-in-law's mind was so far gone by then that I'm guessing she just had no external awareness anymore. It's more than anyone should have to bear. I loved these people. Their cases were hopeless. There was nothing more that could be done to improve or reverse their doomed condition. They were each beyond hope. The last thing I wanted for them was to have their suffering needlessly prolonged.
BTW - everybody: if jeb bush goes all the way, you can certainly kiss any such options goodbye that might be possible or gaining ground in your state. Remember how he meddled and forcibly intruded into the Terri Schaivo drama and dictated how her husband's misery was to have no release - and certainly no release for her, either. So much for that CONservative "get the government off yer back" BS.