Dying Young

I have been reading a new book lately and though it had not held my attention as a cannot put down stay up all night reading book, it is definitely thought provoking. The title is Two Weeks of Life by Eleanor Clift. It is a story about her husband dying of cancer, but what makes it interesting is that this is happening during the Terri Shivo drama. The author draws similarities as well as discusses many political issues related to the right to life movement as well as dying with dignity.

Tom died today(in the book) and as my mind wrapped around itself around the idea, it began shooting off into many different areas. Would I want to die at home or in a hospital, did his wife cry or had she already shed every last tear, was he in pain(they had brought in hospice months ago so I would imagine no) and lastly how terrible for one so young to die. Then by a will completely of it's own I heard my mind ask me is it really? No question dying young before all your goals are accomplished is a tragedy, but isn't all death a tragedy? Who really accomplishes everything they wanted to before their time up? No one no matter the age wants to die unless physical or mental difficulties push them there.

I made the dreadful decision to watch this special on a hospice and what happens during the dying process. Just the raw footage of people drawing in their last breaths. It was very disturbing, watching their last days, hours minutes. Most were elderly a few in their late 50's maybe. Their lives had come to this, waiting to die in a hospice nursing home. Is this a better way to go? Those images will stay with me forever. Is it better to die in the midst of living? To die while there is still something to be left behind, rather than to do it while waiting for it to happen. I do not want to die young or anytime soon but neither do I want to wither away, a shell of the person I had wanted to be. I guess there's a reason that this decision is not up to us.