Canadian artist's journey with medically-assisted death
Summary
TLDRThe script documents the final moments of Jeanette Lowden, an 87-year-old artist from Saskatoon, who chose a medically assisted death. With the support of her family, she shared her life's memories, her reasons for this decision, and her peaceful transition. The narrative captures her preparation for death, including plaster casts of her hands and a serene outlook, reflecting on her life, family, and art. The family's acceptance and participation in her choice offer a profound look at dignity, control, and the beauty of a well-lived life coming to an end on her terms.
Takeaways
- 🎨 Jeanette Lowden, an 87-year-old artist from Saskatoon, allowed CBC News to document her medically assisted death process.
- 💫 Jeanette asked her family to decorate the lid of her coffin, reflecting her artistic nature even in her final moments.
- 👵 Jeanette's daughter, Phyllis, supported her decision to end her life due to unbearable pain and inability to do anything.
- 🌟 Jeanette's outlook on life changed positively after deciding on medically assisted death, as she saw an end in sight.
- 👋 Jeanette expressed her love and farewell to her family, stating she would be watching over them from 'the other realm'.
- 🤝 Jeanette's family has accepted her decision and is grateful for being part of the process, showing a deep understanding and support.
- 👶 Jeanette involved her grandson in making plaster casts of her hands, creating a tangible legacy for her family.
- 🖼 She cherished her family and her art, considering them her second love after her family.
- 📚 Jeanette's family read a poem to her, 'Relax back beloved, into the Timeless presence', during her final moments.
- 🍸 A small detail about her personality was revealed when her family mentioned ginger ale as her favorite drink.
- 🛌 The doctor explained the procedure to the family, likening it to falling asleep and ensuring Jeanette's comfort and dignity in her final moments.
Q & A
What significant event is Jeanette Lowden preparing for?
-Jeanette Lowden is preparing for her medically assisted death, which she has chosen to have shortly.
How does Jeanette's family feel about her decision?
-Jeanette's family has come to accept her decision and is grateful for the opportunity to be part of the process, supporting her throughout.
What is the significance of decorating the lid of Jeanette's coffin?
-Decorating the lid of her coffin is a way for Jeanette's family to participate in her final moments and create a personal touch to her farewell.
What does Jeanette reminisce about when discussing her life?
-Jeanette reminisces about her first boyfriend when she was 13 years old, indicating her eagerness to recall and share memories from her life.
How does Jeanette describe her physical condition leading to her decision to end her life?
-Jeanette describes her physical condition as unbearable, with constant pain and an inability to do anything, which led her to make the decision to end her life.
What change in Jeanette's outlook on life occurred after deciding on medically assisted death?
-After deciding on medically assisted death, Jeanette's outlook on life changed completely; she became happy, seeing an end in sight.
What does Jeanette consider her legacy to be?
-Jeanette considers her family and her art as her legacy, expressing love for them and the joy her art has brought to her life.
What activity does Jeanette engage in to create a lasting memory for her family?
-Jeanette makes plaster casts of her hands with the help of her grandson, intending to leave a tangible memory for her family.
How does Jeanette describe the process of medically assisted death?
-Jeanette describes the process as similar to going to sleep, a peaceful and restful transition without waking up.
What does Jeanette envision after her death?
-Jeanette envisions being in another realm, looking down on her family, smiling, and telling them she loves them.
How does Jeanette's family view her decision and the process of medically assisted death?
-Jeanette's family views her decision with acceptance and sees the process as a good death, without pain, with all things said, and exactly how she wanted it.
Outlines
🎨 A Life in Art and Love: Jeanette's Final Journey
This paragraph introduces Jeanette Lowden, an 87-year-old artist from Saskatoon, who has chosen a medically assisted death. The script captures the essence of her final moments, as she reminisces about her life, her reasons for choosing this path, and the support she receives from her family. Jeanette reflects on her life's joys and the pain that led her to this decision, highlighting her desire for control and dignity in her final moments. The paragraph also details her family's involvement in her final preparations, including plaster casts of her hands as a lasting memory, and her hope to ease the minds of others about the process of dying.
🌟 A Peaceful Farewell: The Day of Jeanette's Passing
The second paragraph focuses on the day of Jeanette's medically assisted death. It describes the legal and procedural aspects of the process, including the doctor's responsibility to ensure Jeanette's consent is voluntary. The script portrays the emotional farewells and the intimate moments shared between Jeanette and her family, as they express their love and prepare to say goodbye. Jeanette's calm and composed demeanor is emphasized, as is her family's acceptance and support of her decision. The paragraph concludes with the peaceful transition of Jeanette's passing, leaving a legacy of love and a changed perspective on death for those who remain.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Shimmery
💡Medically Assisted Death
💡Coffin Lid
💡Saskatoon Artist
💡Unrestricted Access
💡Reminisce
💡End of Life
💡Outlook
💡Legacy
💡Plaster Casts
💡Beyond the Grave
💡Dignity
💡IV Line
💡Final Consent
💡Good Death
Highlights
87-year-old Saskatoon artist Jeanette Lowden chooses medically assisted death and allows CBC News access to her final moments.
Jeanette asks her family to decorate her coffin lid in a personal touch.
She reminisces about her life, including her first boyfriend at age 13.
Jeanette explains her reasons for ending her life due to unbearable pain and inability to do anything.
Her daughter Phyllis supports Jeanette's decision to seek medically assisted death.
Jeanette's outlook on life changes after deciding on medically assisted death, bringing her happiness.
She expresses gratitude for her long, wonderful life and the support of her family.
Jeanette's art is a significant part of her life and legacy.
She makes plaster casts of her hands with her grandson for her family as a keepsake.
Jeanette believes she will be reaching from beyond the grave to her loved ones.
She wants to answer questions for future generations through her actions.
Dr. Weiler explains the medically assisted death process as similar to falling asleep without waking up.
Jeanette has full control and dignity over her death, choosing the time and manner.
She looks forward to reuniting with her ancestors in the afterlife.
Jeanette's family accepts and supports her decision, participating in the process.
A poem is read to Jeanette, emphasizing relaxation and returning to a timeless presence.
Jeanette feels relieved rather than brave, as she no longer has to suffer.
The family prepares for the doctor's arrival and the final moments with Jeanette.
Dr. Weiler explains the procedure and ensures Jeanette's consent is given freely.
Jeanette says her final goodbyes to her family, expressing her love and watching over them from the other realm.
The family reflects on the beautiful and peaceful death, with no pain or regrets.
Jeanette's granddaughter shares her new perspective on death after witnessing her great-grandmother's passing.
Transcripts
oh it's so shimmery
which kind of pen do you need
it's the night before Jeanette lowden's
medically assisted death
she asked her family to decorate the lid
of her coffin
once you do your hand the 87 year old
Saskatoon artist has allowed CBC News
nearly unrestricted access to the final
moments of her life and her death
okay thank you
hello hi
hi we meet Jeanette and her daughter
Phyllis several weeks before Jeanette is
scheduled to die
should I tell you about my first
boyfriend sure
it was
I was 13. she's eager to reminisce about
her life and explain her reasons to end
it
I thought you know I can't do this
anymore I just can't do this it was too
painful everything was
hurting I was hurting all over
I couldn't do anything
and that's when
Phyllis supported me in in
making that decision that I I need to go
home you know once she decided that
that she wanted to go the maid route
that she could see and end in sight it
completely changed her Outlook I mean
changing your outlook on life when
you're you know when you've got six
weeks to go it might sound like a an odd
thing to do but she was so happy I've
had enough I've had a long life I'm 87
years old I've had a wonderful family
who support me
and
and I love dearly forever and I'll be
I'll be looking down on them and smiling
and telling them I love them you know
she knows she's leaving a legacy in her
family I love it I love this and in her
art the next wonderful thing in my life
is the the time I've had
to do my art that's been my second love
I've mixed about four times what I need
here if you come and just sit like right
here so as she prepares to die she
enlists the help of her grandson and
just set your hand in there to make
plaster casts of her hands for her
family
you know I think it's going to be not
too bad looks like you're reaching from
Beyond the Grave
well I will be yeah and now I have a
chance to answer the questions that my
kids and grandkids and great grandkids
have yeah it turned out good
hi
good to see you again
hi Dr Weiler here again and I always
like to give people that sort of
description that if they've ever had
surgery they know what the procedure is
like because it's going to sleep in the
same way of course with this you don't
wake up yeah and the other is that
uh really it's like drifting off into a
very just restful sleep so every person
drifts off to sleep is kind of what to
expect when for people in the room so
does my mouth open or whatever kind of
is normal for you when you drift off to
sleep
I don't want to look gross no no and
this is always your choice yeah no one
can make this choice but you right yeah
I know that a person can have control
and dignity when they die
without say being found dead on the
floor in my apartment you having a good
time
my mother and father when they got
married
and uh I treasure that yeah picture of
them and I'll probably be seeing
them and saying hello
and it'll be so nice it'll be so nice to
see all my ancestors again Jeanette's
family has come to accept her decision
and is grateful for the opportunity to
be part of it
I read the poem relax back beloved
into the Timeless presence
from which shines Stardust and storms
and love and light
[Music]
rest beloved one in the mystery that is
your source
[Music]
everybody thinks I'm brave but I
actually
relieved that I don't have to suffer
the day has finally come
okay so this is what's going to happen
the doctor is going to come in about
half an hour
he's going to talk to Grandma alone for
a little while just to she's he's got to
get final consent and by law he has to
make sure that nobody is making her do
this
um so he's going to come in he's going
to talk to her and then he's going to
put an IV in and then then it'll be time
for us to all say goodbye to her you're
the only one who can tell me if today is
the day yeah yeah today is the day today
is the day for sure yep for positive the
first step Dr Weiler inserts the empty
IV line you put this down
as he prepares the Fatal medication in
the kitchen it's time for Jeanette to
say her final goodbyes
[Music]
I love you so much
and I'll miss your presence
your physical presence but I'll be I'll
be watching over you and sending all my
love and and yeah and smiling down on
you proudly you are a wonderful person
and
and I've loved you from the first day of
your birth until until now and then
I love you forever from the other place
from the other Realm
it was such a wonderful ending you know
in my mind it was a beautiful death
[Music]
okay you ready guys yep okay I see death
so much differently now than I saw it
before where before it seemed like a
threat
it wasn't scary she was not frightened
at all and she wanted to be able to
share that and to
you know ease people's minds
great Grandma's favorite drink was
ginger ale okay so go for some ginger
ale and it was a good death
there was
there was no pain there was no wondering
there was no things left unsaid it was
completely the appropriate and perfect
time
and she had it exactly how she wanted it
mom has gone home
[Music]
Jason Warwick CBC News Saskatoon foreign
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