the Chronicle

THE WEEKLY JOURNAL OF ORLEANS COUNTY

January 16, 2008

Letters to the editor

On making choices at the end of life

Writing this personal letter has been a painful task in many ways, but we are sharing it in the hope that our story will help others. Our ninety-two-year-old mother, Nita Amadon Ford, died on January 8, 2008. She maintained her own home in Barre right up to the end of her life and was an amazingly proud and determined Vermont Yankee. Her fierce independence, love for her family, and efforts to help others will be missed by all who knew her. Our mother wanted the choice of completing her life’s adventure based on her terms and beliefs.

She wanted the right to choose the manner and timing of death. Although terminally ill, she was mentally alert and feisty to the end. On one occasion, she refused to go to Central Vermont Medical Center via ambulance because she wasn’t “presentable.” The next time we had to play the “power of attorney” card. During her last ten days, she refused to take her prescribed medicines and any sustenance except sips of water and juice. Each long day she became weaker, more anxious and despondent. Many times she stated that she did not want to die in that manner and expressed repeated regrets that we had to witness the degrading process. She also share her love for us and her extended family. Her respiration was increasingly accompanied by guttural sounds. Although we don’t believe she was in physical pain, she was in mental agony due to the dehumanizing process of dying.

We had terrific support during this heart-wrenching and stressful period and would like to publicly acknowledge and share our admiration for the expertise, compassion and professionalism received from the following institutions: Central Vermont Medical Center (Dr. Michael Haynes, Dr. David Ospina, Dr. Janusz Porowski, Dr. Nicole Belanger, Nurse Christine Koonz and Cynthia Corey), Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice (Diana Peirce, Deb Sanguinetti, Joy Tucker, Carol King, Bette Godfrey, Stephanie Graham, Beth Couture, Helen Wilson, Dorla Leone, Monica Tardy), Area Agency on Aging for Northeastern Vermont (Ken Gordon, Michel Richards) and the Barre City Ambulance crew. They were all superb!

How, then, does sharing this experience help others? We believe that the vast majority of Vermonters want the option of avoiding distress as their life ebbs away. Patient choice and control of the ways of dying need to be added to our list of basic freedoms. We hope that this letter will stimulate continued conversation about this vital public policy.

Last year in the Vermont Legislature, a bill (H.0044: PATIENT CHOICE AND CONTROL AT THE END OF LIFE) that would have provided this freedom was defeated. In this part of the Kingdom, representatives Shaw, Wheeler,. Kilmartin, Marcotte, Morley and Randall voted against reading the bill for a third time. John Rodgers voted in favor of the bill. If you believe that a law with proper safeguards is in order, contact them. Together, let us provide an individual, a physician and family with the basic right to control the end of life with dignity. We regret that our mother did not have that choice.

Sincerely,

Sue (Ford) LaGue

Berlin

Noel W. Ford

West Glover