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I’ve survived for 67 years under sometimes onerous and painful circumstances. Was I “living” only when I was young, strong and in excellent health? And now - in my old age, weakness, and in ill health - am I only surviving but not “living?”

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Ever work in pedes onocology? Parents agree to treatments with miniscule survival rates. They do not understand that survival means breathing but not consciousness. They are handed back a slowly dying child, who has been tortured.

Brain cancer? You can survive a long time. Breathing, in pain, dying by the inch. Watching an friend do this now. Not a death I would wish on anyone.

The difference between brain cancer and your example of ill health are not even in the same planetary system.

And your solution is what - pull the plug?

I have been on pedes oncology - with my then 5 year-old son. During his one-year course of chemo, he had several line infections, at one time a C. difficile infection that nearly took his life. I recall vividly lying in bed with him at Children's Hospital in September, 1999, when he was down from his pre-cancer weight of 42 lbs to about 25 lbs, with extreme diarrhea. He looked at me and asked "Are they trying to kill me?"

I am myself a cancer survivor. Very little bladder and sphincter control remains. I have had to turn around on my way to work because I have had an "accident." In my thirty's I could run 30 miles without stopping. Now I must use a walker and can't make it much more than a block or two without stopping to gather my strength, such as it is. I have cervical-spinal arthritis which is robbing me of strength and motor control day-by-day. I live with acute pain each and every day.

I guess, by your measure, I should just cash it in.

Not going to happen, FRiend.

"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

Chickensoup,

Thanks for your thoughtful post.

Those who have not seen terminal patients are well advised to consider twice before typing once.

Just a hint.

YMMV