Experience: I was with my friend when she took her own life
source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/24/assisted-suicide-dignitas-friends-story
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- whocansaveus
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"She took the glass and drank steadily, without a tremor. She looked at me and said, "Oh, yuck" and from nowhere I replied, 'Well, they won't do as last words.'"
In this article, Chris Broughton shares the experience of a woman whose close friend chose assisted suicide to escape COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
"On a cold bright Monday in March, my friend Vicki and I took a train journey together for the very last time. During our 20-year friendship, we had travelled together a lot but, this time, when we took the train from St Pancras to Zurich, I knew I would return alone. We were on our way to the Dignitas clinic, where Vicki would die less than a week later.
Vicki was fiercely independent and saw her life as an adventure. In her younger days, she cycled across Nepal, was shipwrecked off New Zealand and extradited from America. She was also a self-taught sailor, potter and toy maker. But 10 years ago she was diagnosed with COPD, an incurable type of emphysema. She was prescribed all sorts of medication and explored alternative therapies, but the breathlessness grew worse. Her energy levels fell to almost zero.
In 2004, she joined Dignitas and asked if I would go with her when the time was right. I agreed; part of me hoped that when the time was right, she might die gently in her sleep, but that was not to be."
Rest of story at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/24/assisted-suicide-dignitas-fri...
In this article, Chris Broughton shares the experience of a woman whose close friend chose assisted suicide to escape COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
"On a cold bright Monday in March, my friend Vicki and I took a train journey together for the very last time. During our 20-year friendship, we had travelled together a lot but, this time, when we took the train from St Pancras to Zurich, I knew I would return alone. We were on our way to the Dignitas clinic, where Vicki would die less than a week later.
Vicki was fiercely independent and saw her life as an adventure. In her younger days, she cycled across Nepal, was shipwrecked off New Zealand and extradited from America. She was also a self-taught sailor, potter and toy maker. But 10 years ago she was diagnosed with COPD, an incurable type of emphysema. She was prescribed all sorts of medication and explored alternative therapies, but the breathlessness grew worse. Her energy levels fell to almost zero.
In 2004, she joined Dignitas and asked if I would go with her when the time was right. I agreed; part of me hoped that when the time was right, she might die gently in her sleep, but that was not to be."
Rest of story at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/24/assisted-suicide-dignitas-fri...
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- groups:
- Community, News and Politics
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- tags:
- Experience, friend, Assisted Suicide, emphysema, 2 more
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whocansaveus
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I definitely think it must have been hard for her, but in such a case where the friend is suffering... I'd like to think that I would be there to help make their last moments as good as they could be.
- 1 year ago
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whocansaveus
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littlwarrior
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I have to admit that one made me cry. I dont know if i could be as strong if my best freind asked me to be there but i would be there for her all the why. I admire the strength in both of them.
- 1 year ago
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littlwarrior
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eden49
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...thank you for posting...
- 1 year ago
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eden49
