FYI Central

Have times changed or is it a that I am getting older and hearing more often. People talking about their preference to “die rather than go through the pain of medical treatments”?

The other day while sitting in the waiting room to have my eyes checked. I overheard a couple people talking about dialysis. They seem to have just met and were comparing life experiences. He was about 40 and had lost a brother and a sister in their 20’s to a rare family led disease. She was about 50, and had lost a sister to diabetes. she went on to describe a pain in the physical changes her sister went through.then went on to say she would rather die than have to go through all that pain and suffering. The younger man was in total agreement and add that he would rather take his chances in heaven than go through the pain of dialysis.

This evening, I listened to it exposé on TV about a community with a higher than normal rate of diabetes among their citizens. I wasn’t paying full attention, I was busy working, but I did hear one of the citizens say,”she would rather die than go through dialysis”.

I have not experienced this pain but I have a friend that passed away recently. Diabetes being one of the final straws that made life unbearable for him, once he lost both feet. Dialysis was not an option for him.

I am old school, I know that doctors and machines can keep me alive even if I were in a coma. But why would I want to be a burden to society. A pain to my family to see me suffer in absolute stillness, when I could be a free spirit. Modern medicine dictates doctors are to keep me alive, when it should be my choice to decide if I want treatment are not. They are not God, and God wants me and wants to take me that is when I should go.

I am not surprised I share the sentiments, to not want to suffer or cause my loved ones to suffer watching me suffer. I am more surprised to hear people talk openly about their preference to accept the afterlife. Rather than life with pain and suffering. It is 2010 and of the 10 million other baby boomers, I know I’m not alone.

It makes me feel good to know that I’m not alone. I truly believe Heaven is a beautiful place. Maybe it’s because I am older, hopefully wiser than I was 40 years ago, that I look forward to going home when it is my time. I am in no hurry and will accept medical attention to a certain extent.

I know there are thousands out there who are suffering from chemotherapy, dialysis, amputation, skin grafts and cosmetic surgery from burns, to name just a few symptoms of struggling to survive. I commend your endurance, your strength, your desired to survive and live a longer life. Those that love you, appreciate your efforts. Understand that others look at life & death differently.

Personally, I believe we should have the right to decide for ourselves whether we live or die, or except medical efforts to continue beyond easing suffering. In other words, if you can’t fix me. Let me die quickly, correction assist me to cross over, respectfully with dignity.