It seems like we regularly go over old ground, revisiting the same subjects as if we don’t already know the answers.  Strange as it might seem, there are no definitive answers when it comes to death and dying and disposal.  Death is one of those areas of life that needs to be pondered and mulled over as part of the journey to our ending of days.

And so this story is another case in point.  Wiriya Sati tells us about her father’s dying days and laments not knowing what she now realises would have been helpful to her as his condition deteriorated.

In: Things I wish I knew about dying to suppport my dad (ABC Life, 23 May 2019), Sati offers up these insights:

Saving and prolonging life isn’t always helpful

Support and eduation can help you advocate for yourself and your loved one

You can die at home

Signs and stages of death that can help you know it’s coming

Water and touch can prolong life (quality of life)

There are alternative funeral options

Planning for death helps with letting go.

While ever our western society continues to medicalise, commercialise, corporatise and privatise end-of-life times and we don’t personalise and become sufficiently familiarised with our ending, we will be stuck in this current rut of denial and self inflicted limbo land.

Wiriya Sati is now an advocate for planning ahead.  Her experiences are not unique and yet they are unique – if you get the drift.  Each of us has to come to terms with this time in our own way.  Her story will now help inform the conversations she has with her family and friends.  Because she has been willing to write them up and share them with us, we are the richer for her having ‘passed this way’, even though millions have passed this way before.

To read the full story click on the link:  Things I wish I knew