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After a terminal cancer diagnosis upended 12 years of remission, all Elaine Fong's mother wanted was a peaceful end of life. What she received instead became a fight for the right to decide when. Fong shares the heart-rending journey to honor her mother's choice for a death with dignity — and reflects on the need to explore our relationship to dying so that we may redesign this final and most universal of human experiences.
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In the USSA you have NO RIGHT to Dignity!
At least it’s not the USA. That place sucks even more.
@Dustin T Spoiled Child
Stop AAPI hate
What a Beautiful way to Look at Mt Rainier ..I will look at it and remember your Mom ..Thank you ..
You speak so well. What a moving and important story.
To the well-organised mind,
Death is but the next adventure….
-J.K Rowling
It’s not the next adventure. When you brain dies, everything that makes you, you, dies.
@Overonator y so pressed
@MysteryNoone You mean “why are you so triggered?”
Because I’m tired of people engaging in magical thinking and fantasy. Everything we know says that your personality, everything that makes you, you, comes from the brain. And that means once the brain dies, YOU die.
Such a strong soul.
Thank you for telling your story! You’re so brave ✨
Death is painful enough, so why make it any harder?
I agree yours ! but sometimes we can not control it
I hate to use this anology, but why do doctors play God? Any doctor that does not do what a patient wants is a fraud
Very moving, and reminded me of my mothers death. Who didnt have the same choice as your mum.
R.I.P. to your extraordinary mother and a very happy heavenly birthday to her.
Your mother is really a brave person. My condolences to you and your family. Some part of her will always live inside you.
Lucky mom, really, so lucky in many ways.
This is America and you should 100% be able to make whatever choice you want with your own body.
You forgot to mention the Dr. Kevorkian already was fighting for this in the 90s, and even went to jail for that particular cause. He’s been a hero for many people for exactly this.
May her soul rest in peace.
@Elaine Fong, thank you for sharing your mother’s story with me, and us. You are such a strong daughter to share this story as your mom asked, on her birthday.
You gave your mother an amazing gift of love, peace, and dignity.