Debbie

It is natural for all of us to wish to live as long as possible. We might think that nobody ever wants life to end, or that we could ever want our lives to end. However, as our life situation changes, our ability to enjoy life may decline. At some point, as we come closer to death, health declines, energy declines, involvement in the world around us declines and in many cases, unpleasant experiences such as pain, helplessness and mental or physical deterioration increase. It is one thing to gleefully enjoy life when one's energy level is high and all one's faculties are fully intact. It is quite another thing to enjoy life even when in extreme pain, unable to physically do anything, and physically or mentally deteriorating. Watching our loved one in such a condition is perhaps the most difficult experience of all!

Some of you may find it hard to understand why anyone might wish to "let go," even when a terminally ill disease strikes. You may believe that "life is sacred." Yet there is a saying that there is a time to be born and a time to die; it's simply a part of life which must be accepted, sooner or later, for everyone. Even if life is sacred, death is also sacred, and everyone has their own appointed time of death, their own destiny. The process of death can be horribly painful, full of grief and sorrow...or it can be inspiring, peaceful and accepted in an atmosphere if great love. That may be incomprehensible to some, but many hospice nurses do their work, because of it; to honor and respect the living while they are with us, and to allow the dying dignity, peace and comfort.

QUALITY OF LIFE AND QUANTITY OF LIFE: NOT THE SAME

QUALITY OF LIFE AND QUANTITY OF LIFE:
NOT THE SAME