Originally Posted by
john m flores
My father lived for 11 years after a stroke took away his brilliant and baritone voice. The last two were bedridden with many emergency hospital visits. I asked him several times if he was ready to go but knowing his cognitive state, I could not trust the answer. My greatest fear is winding up in the same situation and am formulating a simple test that my loved ones can use to make that difficult decision. It will something along the lines of, "If I can't recite the alphabet and handle my own bowels, it's time for me to go."
I can understand how you feel. However, I'm not sure I'd want to leave my loved ones feeling the guilt of carrying out my wishes? Of course everyone responds differently to a difficult decision like that....but I'm not sure that's a burden I'd want to leave them with. However being bedridden for several years ain't no treat for them either. And if in a hospital, how do they interact with the doctors in that situation? Tough call for sure.