Canadian artist's journey with medically-assisted death

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

Channel: CBCSaskatchewan

Views: 28,871

Keywords: medical assistance in dying, MAID, euthanasia, cbc news, cbc sask, cbc saskatchewan, healthcare, dignity in death, health-care, health care, doctor, treatment

Id: dhD4VhFTouI

Length: 7min 46sec (466 seconds)

Published: Mon Jun 05 2023