Planning Ahead

A difficult topic for us all, but one not to be ignored.

End of Life
Organ Donation
Do Not go Gentle

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End of Life, Dying and Death

There may be a few things we don’t like to talk about with friends and family.   Perhaps we don’t like discussing how much we earn, or revealing who we will vote for.

It is likely that death is also one of the topics we steer well clear of.

Talking about end-of-life, dying or death, even with family and friends, is a taboo subject for many of us.
Our loved ones probably know our preference in most things, such as how many sugars we take in our coffee and how well-done we like our steak. But do they know our end of life wishes?

But someone needs to be able to say these things on our behalf when we might not be able to.

Until now we might not have ever said these things aloud. It might feel like a difficult conversation to have, so why dont we start with writing some of our thoughts and feelings down?
Have we written a will?
Have we written down our wishes or preferences for our end of life care?

Speaking out now can help our loved ones to act with the confidence that they know exactly what we wanted.

The Dying Matters Coalition and the British Heart Foundation are encouraging people to speak up, and both orginisations offer a lot of useful advice.     Equally, do not be affraid to discuss things with either your doctor or HF nurse.

There - thinking about it wasn't that difficult after all - now was it.

Links:-

Dying Maters Coalition - Lets Talk About It

British Heart Foundation - A Tricky Conversation

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Become An Organ Donor

I had a lovely, and thought provoking e-mail from our very own Maureen Semple.
Maureen is celebrating the 7th anniversary of her heart transplant, and in her mail Maureen provides an eloquent reason why even those of us with cardiac conditions should give serious consideration to registering to become an organ donor.

So please, I beg you all, talk it over with your family and if you can see it in your heart register to become an organ donor.

It can all be done on-line, and only takes a few seconds of your time, but could make all the difference in the world to someone.

Just follow this link - Organ Donation

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Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
by Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

For those who enjoy listening to poetry we offer you a reading of "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas himself.

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