Current Events > My wife continues her journey towards MAID (Medical assistance in death)

(+) Yeah! (+)

I'm sure many of us are with them in spirit and love. We've followed the story for many months and have admired your courage and strength. Feel the energy we're sending out to you and feel our arms around you.

sad. how old is your wife? best wishes to you

Jeff_AKA_Snoopy posted...

Made it safely to Vancouver!

Now about a 24 hour wait.

Make it the best 24 hours ever buddy!

Can't think of a more bittersweet situation. My wife and I have been together the same amount of time you and yours have been Jeff so the situation just hits home for me.

It might be kind of weird and improper to sort of "jump in" here at this stage. But I've been lurking around and following your situation for awhile and just wanted to kind of, now rather than later, add my voice to the support you have here. That said, I don't think I could say anything you haven't already heard. Just know that there are people you may not even know, who may not ever have spoken to you, who are wishing you the strength to get through this.

Stay strong and see her off with a smile so she'll know you'll be okay. And never, ever forget that you aren't alone. Even strangers on the internet are with you.

I've been lurking these threads for a long time and just wanted to say, you've been incredible throughout this. Best of luck moving forward

We are getting a late check out today from the hotel. Trying to decide what we do from 1pm-5pm. Maybe the science center or something like that, not sure.

Thanks for all the support everyone. It does mean a lot. I go between this all just being a regular time and it hitting me like a sack of bricks.

I think even just being outside at a park would be nice. Let her take in the world around her.

I'm sorry for your loss. It's never easy during these times.

Are you near Stanley Park? That would be a great spot to spend some time in.

Thinking of you today.

an anecdote:

one of the properties I manage has a storage area with multiple storage lockers. Someone decided to store big ol bags of rice in theirs and nobody noticed until we had a mice problem.

The rice was removed and single-dose poison traps set but the problem has persisted. There is generally enough other material in the storage lockers for mice to subsist on but they are starving and surely dehydrated.

Life finds a way.

On the past weekend I noticed that someone placed sticky traps. These are inhumane and I did not approve them so removed immediately once I became aware however one trap had captured three juvenile (and still moving) mice.

Tiny bits of life no larger than your thumb nail.

I picked up the trap and the mice shrieked at me glaring at me with their beady black eyes.

I took them outside and they shrieked as the sunlight shone down on them.. likely for the first time in their lives. Then next I carried them to a nearby stream and dunked them once to keep their bodies wet while I gently pried two of them off the sticky trap (and all their arms and legs intact thankfully). One jumped off my hand and into the stream.. amazingly the mouse knows how to swim! But he was swimming away from shore so I picked him up again and set along the bank so that he could run off into nearby bushes and explore the world for the first time.

The third mouse however was struggling.. it was badly mangled from the trap and had torn fatal bits of its flesh and limbs while trying to escape.

This one wasnt going to make it.. I euthanized it by holding it underwater for a time before removing it from the trap and giving a water burial.

Jeff_AKA_Snoopy posted...

We are getting a late check out today from the hotel. Trying to decide what we do from 1pm-5pm. Maybe the science center or something like that, not sure.

Thanks for all the support everyone. It does mean a lot. I go between this all just being a regular time and it hitting me like a sack of bricks.

When a man is hit with a sack of bricks, is bound to shit bricks. Lame joke, I know, just trying to keep spirits up.

It's a little too hot for outside stuff. We have a few hours to go so we are gonna go watch Mission Impossible. Nice cool theater, close to the clinic.

Jeff_AKA_Snoopy posted...

It's a little too hot for outside stuff. We have a few hours to go so we are gonna go watch Mission Impossible. Nice cool theater, close to the clinic.

I hope both of you enjoy it, but especially her since it will be one of her final memories.

Our theater is practically empty. Lol, a big old movie to ourselves and one other person way in the back. XD

Jeff_AKA_Snoopy posted...

Our theater is practically empty. Lol, a big old movie to ourselves and one other person way in the back. XD

A good way to get up to some "shenanigans"

DarthDemented posted...

A good way to get up to some "shenanigans"

I'm terrible for having a similar thought.

I mean, if she's up for it, that would definitely be a sweet last memory.

Thinking of you and hope you are able to get home safely after all of this.

Movie is done. It was very good.

It populated a bit after I last posted so no shenanigans.

90 minutes to go.

Jeff_AKA_Snoopy posted...

Movie is done. It was very good.

It populated a bit after I last posted so no shenanigans.

90 minutes to go.

I've been thinking of you all day. I hope you will be ok

How gutsy to watch a movie with "Part One" in the title in this situation!

colliding posted...

How gutsy to watch a movie with "Part One" in the title in this situation!

You know I didn't even think of that . Well he could do like I did for my wife. Watched the last few seasons of supernatural since she wasn't able to. Also watched all of Inuyasha final act and started the spin off series.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/7/2/AAABltAAEquU.jpg

Here she is laughing with the doctor who saved her years of unthinkable pain.

5:31pm.

Beautiful

My thoughts and well wishes go out to you and your loved ones.

We should all be so lucky to go out on our own terms.

That is the best picture.

Thank you for sharing that picture. I'm sitting in one of the most upscale comedy clubs in Chicago and holding back tears.

DnDer posted...

That is the best picture.

Isn't it? One of the most amazing things about her was her ability to laugh and joke in the worst of situations. Dark sense of humor of course but devilishly funny and witty.

It's one of the things I will miss the most.

Jeff_AKA_Snoopy posted...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/7/2/AAABltAAEquU.jpg

Here she is laughing with the doctor who saved her years of unthinkable pain.

5:31pm.

honestly that's really good to see. most people I've known in end-of-life situations were miserable but having some measure of control over it must make things a little easier

I know this has been the hardest day ever buddy. Wish I could teleport to Vancouver and drink a toast to her with you. I'll have one to send her away from here.

DarthDemented posted...

I know this has been the hardest day ever buddy. Wish I could teleport to Vancouver and drink a toast to her with you. I'll have one to send her away from here.

Thanks. I'm having myself some supper now. Grabbing some A&W. No drinks while I am flying, not something I wanna do. Lol

She looks in really great spirits despite everything. (everything)

It's not really the right bar to measure, but so many people never attain that peace for themselves and for others.

Jeff_AKA_Snoopy posted...

Thanks. I'm having myself some supper now. Grabbing some A&W. No drinks while I am flying, not something I wanna do. Lol

I get that. Fuck yeah A&W. We use to have one close by but it shut down.

Rest in peace lovely lady.

After it happened I sent out an email to my organization I work with, detailing everything. My colleagues have been very supportive and instrumental in my being able to just handle working while going through all this.

An employee responded and said that she has Ehlors Danlos herself and she feels far less alone now reading my story. That wasn't something I expected and it is beautiful.

My condolences TC. I don't really have words to say, I'm happy you and her were able to find some peace.

It's such a bittersweet ending to this saga. All I can say is that I'm glad she's at peace and I wish the best for you going forward.

All the best, and thanks so much for sharing this experience with us. It's truly been one of the most edifying things I've read on the internet in years.

I'm surprised this hasn't made the news. Isn't this the first person in Canadian history to have this done as a result of EDS?

Take care buddy. You can talk to us anytime.

I'm going to apologize upfront because I already feel fucked up for asking, however my curiosity is gnawing at me, so I'm going to ask and risk people dogpiling on me, perhaps even justifiably so: about how long would you say the procedure took from its initiation until she was at peace?

Kradek posted...

I'm going to apologize upfront because I already feel fucked up for asking, however my curiosity is gnawing at me, so I'm going to ask and risk people dogpiling on me, perhaps even justifiably so: about how long would you say the procedure took from its initiation until she was at peace?

No problem, curiosity is understandable!

They basically give you a medication that puts you into a deep sleep, like if you were having a colonoscopy. That takes like 10 seconds to be out. From that point they just put in a bunch of a medication that stops your muscles, including your heart. From start to finish it was less than 5 minutes. She was sleeping within 10-15 seconds.

Jeff_AKA_Snoopy posted...

No problem, curiosity is understandable!

They basically give you a medication that puts you into a deep sleep, like if you were having a colonoscopy. That takes like 10 seconds to be out. From that point they just put in a bunch of a medication that stops your muscles, including your heart. From start to finish it was less than 5 minutes. She was sleeping within 10-15 seconds.

Wow, much quicker than I was expecting. Thank you for the explanation, I hope her sleep was never disturbed during the process. Safe travels home.

Just waiting at the gate now. I am playing a game on my Switch that brings me back to being 6 years old.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/6/7/7/AAABltAAEqv9.jpg

Wonderboy 3 The Dragons Trap

I'm so sorry man. But I'm glad she found peace

Made it on my flight safely. Gonna go to airplane mode so I won't respond for a bit. I have downloaded Happy Gilmore to watch on the plane. Always good for a laugh. Love hockey and golf so it is a winner.

Please keep posting here to let us know how you are.