Sometimes the question is not how long we can live, but how we want to live with the time we have.
I’m going to give you something to think about. Some of you will disagree with me—and that’s okay. I am simply offering another perspective on living as death approaches.
My husband was 89 years old when, during a routine chest exam, two lesions were found in his lung, very close to a lymph node. It was determined that these lesions were cancerous. To know exactly what kind of cancer they were, he would need an invasive lung biopsy. Knowing the type would help determine its rate of growth and what kind of treatment might be beneficial. The procedure would not eliminate or treat the cancer—only identify it.
My husband and I had a lengthy, open conversation. We decided that no matter the kind of cancer or possible treatments, at almost 90, death was already on the horizon. The question became: how did he want to spend his remaining time? With procedures and treatments, or living as fully as he could until he couldn’t.
Jack lived four months. Those four months were a gift of time for all of us. During that time, he did a lot of reminiscing, examining his life and his actions. Family came from out of town to support him and show their love. Our entire family grew closer.
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