SEMINOLE -- When death nears, Liz and Jim Kirkman will be ready. In their wallets and on their refrigerator door, the Kirkmans' last wishes are meticulously documented. Now on their third or fourth revision, living wills share space with family photos and their driver's licenses. More than three years after the struggle over Terri Schiavo's life played out at a nearby hospice, in courtrooms and in Congress, planning for death and medical care in case of a catastrophic injury still seems to be an afterthought.
As volunteers for The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, the Kirkmans say they see many people who haven't planned ahead. For the past 15 years, the couple has tried to bring peace to those last moments......
Death is certain, but careful planning for it is not
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