Found out my friend took the death with dignity drugs on thanksgiving

[captain queeg]

I knew it was coming. I posted a couple weeks ago about it. A friend who lived close to him texted me last night. I wasn’t surprised, he hadn’t answered my last couple texts. I’m just glad I got to see him. I went up there and spent almost a week. He looked pretty bad, lost a lot of weight and all his hair. He was pretty depressed but he seemed like his old self in a lot of ways the last couple days of my visit so I was glad I got to see him. I’m glad it’s an option nowadays where I live. Like I said, I’ve read only about 20% of those who fill the prescription ever use it. He probably would have lasted another month or two if he’d hung on but he was miserable so I admired his actions.

[FalloutShelter]

1. Sorry for your loss.

I hope your friend passed gently. His suffering has ended.

[marble falls]

2. Sorry to hear of your loss.

[Deuxcents]

3. So sorry ..

But you have your memories as that’s all any of us have. I wish we had an option with dignity when the time comes. I wish peace for you.

[twodogsbarking]

4. Life can suck at times. This is one of the times.

You cared. That counts more than all else.
Sadness is natural but be proud of yourself.

[Fla Dem]

5. So sorry you've lost a dear friend. He went in peace and ended his suffering. Peace to you as well.

[Onlyserious]

6. When the time comes, I want my vet.

I wish my dogs (we're on our third generation of multiple rescues) could do for me what I've done for them--at the point of being unable to alleviate suffering, let me go.

Vets have more compassion than anyone.

[twodogsbarking]

8. How the Veterinarians do it I can't comprehend.

And the people that work there too. Thanks for the comment.

[robbob]

10. When I lost my beloved hound Daisy my vet met me in a park.

Daisy lost the use of her back legs and was using a doggy wheelchair for the last 2 years of her life. She still loved her walk and was energetic, alert, and curious about the world. Then her front legs gave out, she couldn’t even stand in her wheelchair. All she could do was lay on her bed.

I’d take her for car rides and make a bed up at window level so she could stick her head out. I realized finally she had no quality of life left. It was awful; she was in no pain and still had all her curiosity and love for life.

I told my vet she was terrified of going there. He offered to meet me in the park beside his clinic, which we did in downtown Montreal, and as the sun was setting he came out and administered the medication that ended her suffering. Hardest day of my life.

[erronis]

16. That's a beautiful post, robbob. Daisy was so lucky to have you taking care of her.

And the excellent vet.

[robbob]

37. Thank you for your response

It means a lot to me. And yes, he was an incredible friend. He also helped a lot in bringing me to the point where I came to peace with knowing I had to let her go.

[KPN]

22. Wonderful if heartcrushing story. I can tell you were a

a great companion and life partner for Daisy. Speaking from experience, I’m sure it was the hardest day of your life as you said. But also what a wonderful, caring vet you and Daisy were so lucky to have. That vet is a saint.

[robbob]

38. Thank you for your reply.

[leftieNanner]

11. I agree

It's particularly brutal when you euthanize a horse. Always the last resort and always kinder than letting them suffer.

[KPN]

23. THIS.

[mountain grammy]

12. I said the same to my vet

as I stroked my beloved friend while she closed her eyes and went to sleep forever.

[Tetrachloride]

7. I have assisted on a similar situation in hospital ICU

My condolences.

[secondwind]

9. Aww.. he did it his way... he was in charge til the end... always sad when this happens, tho.

[mountain grammy]

13. I have two friends who took this option..

both without doing any chemo, etc. They just let the disease progress and decided when they had enough. Family and friends respected their choices. I admire them both. I'm glad it's an option in Colorado.

[MLAA]

14. Thinking of you and all your friend's loved ones.

💕

[CentralMass]

15. My condolences on your loss.

[LittleGirl]

17. My condolences for your loss.

My mother passed away two months ago and would have loved to have that option. She refused treatment and was in hospice care for four months before she passed. It’s downright disgraceful that we allow humans to suffer but put animals out of their misery at the end.
May his soul Rest In Peace.

[left-of-center2012]

18. I wish we had that in New Mexico n/t

[MollyMcG]

30. Good news

Hi. New Mexico passed the Elizabeth Whitefield End of Life Options Act this year so NM residents have access to Medical Aid in Dying.

[Heartstrings]

19. He can now rest peacefully forever in your heart.........nt

[LakeArenal]

20. One by one our friends will start passing.

My dad lived to see my mom, all his family and friends pass before him. It’s such a lonely place.

Treasure the memories and say bon voyage to your friend.

I’m glad you were able to see him.

[pandr32]

21. I think it should be an option for all

I watched my grandparents and father suffer (Grandpa with cancer, and Grandma with dementia and then pneumonia hooked up to a machine, and my father with cancer) and it brought the thoughts of end-of-life dying to a terror.
All three were slow.
My grandma was hooked up to that ventilator for over a week and she had tears in her eyes and made pitiful sounds the whole time. Many in the family couldn't stand to see her like that and stopped sitting with her--instead waiting at home for the final call. All three were in their eighties at the time of their deaths. My grandfather and then my father (years later) suffered the slow progression of cancer that took over their bodies and lives. There was no joy--just pain and the loss of any ability to attend one's own needs and functions. Their bodies wasted away until they were half their sizes.
There was no chance of a turn around for any of them.
We would not allow our pets to suffer this way.

[BComplex]

24. Where do you live that you have that option?

That should be available everywhere.

[captain queeg]

27. Washington. It's also available in Oregon.

I’ve read others posts about the vets. Had to have my dog put to sleep about 4 years ago. There were vets here who would come to the house. She put him to sleep and took his body away (he was about 100 lbs). That was nice for him, at home with his loved ones. Then I see the process for lethal injections of prisoners and wonder why it’s such a complicated process. My friend actually got a DWD prescription a couple years ago and it was too complicated, 3 steps. Fortunately before it finally happened they had changed the rules. I don’t know what he took but it was 2 meds. The first one was supposed to put him into a coma within 5 minutes, the second he took at the same time and that actually killed him. I don’t know the names of the meds. There was a death with dignity volunteer who sat with him till he passed then called a plain white van to get the body. He had it all arranged and paid for, they’d come and take his body to be cremated right away.

[BComplex]

33. Thanks. And I'm glad your friend could go

on his own terms. I hope I can make it to Washington or Oregon if I ever face the issue!

[captain queeg]

28. See my next post. Put it in the wrong place.

[Good egg]

34. Nine states & D.C. have such laws

https://deathwithdignity.org/learn/death-with-dignity-acts/

[Texaswitchy]

25. I am a believer in people deciding when their end comes.

Especially when they have a illness that makes life their miserable.

May your friend be at peace.

I had a dear friend who had cancer, terminal.

The end would have been brutal.

She connections to the right drugs, and passed when she was ready.

I knew the time was coming.

We had a little party before she left us, we all knew what was happening.

We left, she left.

At peace.

We spread her ashes as requested.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

26. My cat Bigfoot had cancer

He was in pain,my other cats Rustle,Vinnie and Sparkle kept watch over him. Last day before the trip to the vet I gave him a whole can of red salmon.

It made me cry when he shared it together with Sparkle Rustle and Vinny.

The vet was not a scary place to my cats. So the vets didnt freak him out.

I held him in my arms kissing him until he passed,his precious fur was soaked.

I brought Bigfoot home
And he was in the carrier.
I set him down on the floor.
Vinny,Rustle and Sparkle lined up near the box.
They walked in one by one to pay respects to Bigfoot who lay there wrapped in a towel.

Never saw cats do that before.

Whenever a cat of mine dies I am heart sick for a very long time. Bigfoot had a burial worthy of a pharoh.

[Texaswitchy]

29. When I was a kid we always had cats.

One day one was hit by a car and died in the driveway

The other cats all family formed a circle around the dead cat.

They knew.

They stayed for about an hour and then walked away.

My friends and I buried the cat in the front flower bed.


The other cats came to the funeral.


Animals know.

[Duppers]

35. Tears 😥

Pets are family--grief is intense.
You're a woderful cat mom.

[Stuart G]

31. Sorry for your loss

[Layzeebeaver]

32. we need this for people

we all need the right.

but regardless, may peace be within you and may your memories last forever.

[Duppers]

36. Indeed!

For all people.

[Gore1FL]

39. Sorry for your loss. Happy for his control.

It sucks when the best choice is terrible.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

40. I wish they offered the same option for people

with treatment-resistant depression.

[ancianita]

41. Sorry for your loss.

You were a loving friend. Thank you for sharing this.