Have you ever watched someone die of old age? I have. Watching the life slowly drain from another human being is excruciating. It can take weeks – sometimes even months – for the body to acknowledge what it already knows and to let go of a soul waiting for release.
One of my dearest friends believes with her whole heart that we, as rational human beings, should have the right to chose when to end our own lives. I differ greatly because I do not believe life is ours to take. It was given by a power greater than us. It belongs, not to us, but to that greater power.
Having said that, I acknowledge the fact that in every culture there has always been provision for the elderly to end their own lives, if they chose. The aged, on the brink of death, might be taken to a favorite place and left, soon to return to the elements. Some elderly chose to refuse sustenance. In today’s society, many seniors make provisions in Do Not Resuscitate orders and living wills. Is this taking their own life? Or merely hastening the inevitable process that we must all go through? It is a personal and private question that each of us must answer according to our own convictions.
Obviously having never been through the process of dying, I cannot say exactly what happens. After a certain point, I believe the brain no longer registers pain or anxiety. I could be wrong but I am assured by the hospice nurses that this is not allowed to happen. I sincerely hope that is true.
Hospice is a wonderful service and I am thankful for the respectful palliative care provided in many end of life situations.
Watching now, I see the faint rise and fall of covers, indicating a few shallow breaths are still being taken. Then a long pause. A very long pause. I think this must be it! Then a few more very shallow breaths. Her heart is racing, trying to keep the failing body supplied with oxygen. She seems oblivious. Nonresponsive. She is, in effect, already gone but tethered to this place by a life force that will not relinquish its hold. It is a testament to the strength of this thing we call ‘life’. It is why she has lived so long. It is why we all survive the trials we put ourselves, and others, through every day.
I believe dealing with death must be easier for those of us who believe in an afterlife. I have long held with the idea that we are temporarily traveling through this physical space in a body that is not our own. In the words of C.S. Lewis…
“You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.”
This ordeal will soon be over for her and for us. I’m confident she will be thankful when it is.
Yes, been there, done that. Don’t want to go go through it again. I do believe we should be able to end our lives on our terms when there is no other alternative, but I do respect the opinion of most of my dearest friends that we don’t have that right. No easy answers here.