Mr. Kennedy Died and so did Mr. W

Hello.

This past week, Senator Edward Kennedy died.

Hearing of Senator Kennedy's passing made me feel sad. Watching the different memorial tributes to the late Senator also made me feel sad. Observing the familiar Kennedy family faces endure another passing, made me feel sad too.

This past week, a patient of mine, Mr. W, died.

Reading of his passing in the local paper made me feel sad. Looking at the list of kin he left behind also made me feel sad. Remembering our last conversation made me feel sad too.

Both of these gentlemen in their respective passing was a deliverer of a poignant message to me.

Senator Kennedy died in his family's famous home in a wealthy community in Massachusetts. Mr. W died in his trailer with his wife and hospice at his side.

Senator Kennedy pursued the latest in brain tumor treatment from all over this great country. Mr. W pursued excellent care in his home town hospital.

Senator Kennedy had supportive care, most likely paid for from his private funds.
Mr. W had excellent supportive care from public agencies like Public Health and Hospice.

Both men died with dignity.

I experience the process of death often enough to keep me grounded, and tuned in, to what is really important in life. Having this intense human contact is a privilege and makes one realize that each of us "different" human beings are, in fact, very "similar."

To be connected with family, to have access to a doctor and health care, to get choices on how to live or die, and to have love, are the foundational "similarities" entitled to each of us. Our "differences" lie in the specific ways we fulfill our choices.

In this country we face big issues that are really not so big. We face daunting tasks which when looked at from the perspective of our "similarities," are not so daunting. We expend too much energy on the distractions so that we cannot hear the direction we must go.

Now is the time, with the passing of these two very special men, to lay down the anger and strife which demeans all of us, and pick up the olive branch of discussion, cooperation and consensus, to bring solutions to our biggest issues. We have a war to end, we have an economy to fix, and we have a health care system to entitle to every citizen. It is just that simple.

Inside all of our hearts resides goodwill. Let us begin there, in our beating heart of goodwill. Let us not allow fear, anger, and untruth, to distract us from achieving all that is possible. It is in the silence that comes with one's last breath that it is realized what has been valued or what could have been...

Have hope.
Donna