I recommend the interview, worth 7 minutes of your time. Nothing earth shattering, just a nice man doing good stuff.
"The man who makes last wishes come true
Earlier this year a photo went viral on the internet. It showed a terminally ill woman on a stretcher, accompanied by nurses, in the middle of Holland's famous Rijksmuseum. The woman was there to fulfil her dying wish - to take one final look at her favourite Rembrandt painting. Her visit had been made possible by a Dutch charity called the Ambulance Wish Foundation, whose mission is to help terminally ill patients fulfil their final dreams. On the line from Rotterdam, the founder of the charity, Kees Veldboer, told Matthew Bannister that he was inspired by his own experience as an ambulance driver."
Outlook Interview
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02scnq0
Magazine Article
www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34297590
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"If people know we're coming, they find new reserves of energy," says Foppen. "Often the family tell us they were about to cancel because the patient was so ill, but when we arrive they are beaming, ready for their day out."
You see this effect time and again: people hanging on until a wedding, birthday, or family gathering, past any expectation of survival by the experts, demonstrating a burst of energy somehow held in reserve, then expire a few days later.
Equally others decide they've had enough, stop talking and depart - no kicking and screaming required.
The 'human spirit' never ceases to impress and at times amaze me - when my time comes, if I have half the courage and strength of will I see in many of my patients, I will be a happy (dying) man.
Last edited by: Lygonos on Wed 23 Sep 15 at 13:50
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>> The 'human spirit' never ceases to impress and at times amaze me - when my time comes, if I have half the courage and strength of will I see in many of my patients, I will be a happy (dying) man.
Amen to that. It's the final big ordeal and it's impossible to know how we will take it. How hard it will be to maintain dignity, or even if we will still care.
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"The 'human spirit' never ceases to impress............."
About 10 years ago, my next-door neighbour was diagnosed with MS .... shortly afterwards, she did the best thing - went out and bought herself a smart little MX5 that she'd always fancied.
Sadly, a few years later, she developed breast cancer and very rapidly went downhill. After the medics had been doing everything they could, near the end, she was finally offered a tracheotomy. Her husband related that she calmly shook her head and accepted that she was beaten - no drama, just peace.
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Last wishes.... - Lygonos
