| This summer, families will gather across the country to | | | | really want and need to know what her wishes are. |
| celebrate graduations, weddings, Independence Day, | | | | As different as my siblings are, we all have our own |
| baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie. While sharing a robust | | | | idea of what we think mom really wants or needs. An |
| summer feast at the picnic table, why not take that | | | | advance directive would alleviate any questions or |
| opportunity to talk about your health care wishes with | | | | potential disagreements amongst my siblings. |
| your family and loved ones? Granted talking about | | | | "If I were to get cancer," she said, "I don't want to do |
| dying may not be high on your conversation list, but I | | | | anything about it. I don't want chemo -- just get me |
| encourage you not to put it off any longer. | | | | something for the pain." Knowing my mom as I do, I |
| As the youngest of five children, I was glad to have | | | | wasn't surprised with her approach. I made sure to let |
| such a conversation with my 81-year-old mom just last | | | | my four other siblings know of our conversation. |
| year. I asked her if she had a written plan stating what | | | | As long as my mother is able to express her wants |
| health care treatments she would or would not want if | | | | and needs, her advance directives will not be used. In |
| she could not speak for herself. Of course, she had | | | | the end, she liked the idea of giving her children the gift |
| questions for me, too. She wondered why she needed | | | | of peace of mind. And we are glad we know what |
| an advance directive. I explained to her that if she was | | | | she really wants...to die with dignity. That will be our gift |
| in an accident or became very ill, we (her five children) | | | | to her. |