From Zeroasterisk

From: Chris & Susan [********] 
Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2005 8:57 PM
To: ***********
Subject: Susan's thoughts on End of life care & our government

Hello my family & friends - you’ve probably seen on the news that Terri Schiavo made her transition this morning. Some of you may also know she was at the hospice I work for. I can only tell you it has been an emotional few weeks. I am writing this now because my personal belief is that everyone has the right to die comfortably (which she was) and in peace, without interference from our government.

This case has been in the news for years and most recently it's raised some pretty big issues in End of Life Care. Regardless of your religious beliefs I ask you now to think about some potential ramifications of what has taken place over the past months. In my opinion, our government intruded into the life of this woman. They unconstitutionally intervened when they should have respected the rights of private individuals & families and stayed out of it. They have used this as "political grandstanding" to the worst degree.

I'm reminded of just a few years ago when my cousin, Kirby, had an asthma attack and was brain dead by the time he reached the hospital. He was kept alive a few days and, thankfully; his wife was brave enough to let him go. He was in his thirty's. I'm reminded of my uncle, Gene, when just last year he had a heart attack and never recovered. Again, thankfully, his wife was brave enough to let him go. I remember my mother, Barbara, who died of a heart attack in her sleep. This is the way we would all like to go, but unfortunately we may not.

What will happen to you? Do you want your Local, State and Federal governments to have a say in your right to live and to die? Do you want them to have that kind of power in your personal life? We are Americans. We live in a Free Country. Throughout time thousands & thousands of men & women have died for us to live & die as free people.

I know that death is frightening to many people. It's not for me; I believe in a loving God and that I will go to a better place when the time comes. That doesn't mean I'm ready to go but if my quality of life is gone, as I believe was the case of Terri, I want to be allowed to return to our Creator. What is frightening to me is the thought of being kept alive by artificial means and our government having a say in how to keep me alive.

So, first I say to you that you should have a Living Will regardless of your age or health status. Put your wishes in writing, NOW. Tell your loved ones your wishes, NOW. Make it clear to everyone what you want, NOW. You can be as specific as you want, it doesn't matter what your beliefs are. What matters is that they are your beliefs and you deserve to be heard. Put it in writing.

Second, if you believe in the freedom of our country and the rights we have as free individuals, now is the time to act. Write to your Congressmen, Congresswomen, Senators, Governor and President. Let them hear your voice and tell them what you believe. Tell them to stay out of your personal decisions.

We all have the right to make our own decisions and it should stay that way. Don't wait to make yours. Do it now. Honor yourself and your loved ones by allowing your voice to be heard.

If you've read this far, I thank you. I hope that you take some time to really think about how you want our government involved in your life, and potentially in your death, and those ramifications. I hope that you take the time to complete, at the least, a Living Will.

Below I have attached a message the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization released today about the Terri Schiavo case. I really appreciated their comments. Please continue to keep Terri’s family & friends in your thoughts and prayers during what must be a very difficult time for them.

Love & Blessings, Susan

A Message from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

March 31, 2005

A Nation’s Complicated Grief

Our heartfelt sympathies, thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and caregivers of Terri Schiavo who died earlier today.

Mourning the death of a loved one is never easy; doing so in these circumstances is even more complex and painful. Most grieving takes place on an individual level, but, all across our nation, Terri became part of our daily consciousness. Those of us who never knew Terri Schiavo also grieve her passing and feel compassion for her loved ones.

Terri’s life and death prompted a public, passionate and personal debate that transcends one person; it has, in some way, become about our life and death choices. Whatever our own feelings and positions, we honor the courage, the conviction and the passion of all those of who expressed their opinions.

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization is proud of the role hospices have played in the past weeks, providing information, resources and support to tens of thousands of people seeking to clearly express their end-of-life wishes to their family and loved ones.

"The end of a life is never easy. But, Terri’s memory might be best honored by conversations we have with each other about our end-of-life decisions -- what we want and what we do not want, the care we choose to receive and the caregivers who provide it," said J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. "Talk now, before a crisis, to ensure that conflict about end-of-life treatment decisions doesn’t happen to your family."

As values-based organizations, honoring individual wishes, faith and cultural traditions and the natural cycle of life, hospices across the country help patients and families grapple with difficult decisions and situations every day. It has been said that hospices provide a caring sanctuary, nurturing the dying, supporting the living and caring for the community. We will continue to offer this special care with respect, dignity and compassion.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization www.nhpco.org