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| The Polished Mirror |
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Terry Schiavo in the Grocery Store Line
Well, just got home from the grocery store and haven't had the chance to read the issue of Time with the title, "The End of Life, Who Decides?" But, even during the few seconds that my checker scanned my issue, she made sure to tell me that she wanted 3 weeks, max, and her husband wanted 24 hours. We have seen the protesters with their children, we know that the politicians in Washington all voted to prolong her life, but I suspect that the rest of us have been rushing to get the paperwork done to make sure we are able to die gracefully. Several months ago, after two dear friends died rather suddenly (they even saw each other close to death in the small town hospital), without having the chance to address special desires, I went to have my Advance Health Care Directive drawn up. My legal advisor was also a single mother, who had been very athletic and gone off to a wonderful trip to Mexico, and then fell off a cliff and now is in a wheel chair. I'm sure she spent extra time with me, getting me to define "quality of life," and what I consider "heroic life-saving measures." I did add a clause, "If medical opinions suggest there is a chance to live a mentally healthy life, then any and all medical assistance to sustain life should be used." But, I still remember in horror, my cousin's experience as a teenager, working in a nursing home. One of her patients had been a lovely minister's wife, taking her role seriously and inspiring many. However, at this point in her life, when her devoted minister husband came faithfully to visit her, as soon as he (or anyone) walked in the door of the building, they could hear her yelling, "Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck....." Please, let me go gracefully, even if it means withholding food and water. I understand that it actually is a peaceful way to go. Me, without my brain working and an empty body, is not what I think of as human life. Now, all of you are my witnesses. Signed, Victoria Bresee PS During the last few weeks, every time I have left the house, I have made sure that the paperwork was very visible. I would be sooo mad, looking down from heaven, if after all that time and money, my face was on international TV. I am going to add a clause, "Keep all TV cameras out of my room!!!!" |
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