The Sunday Salon 10/04/09

Attention: Extra-large, heavy duty, super-duper spoiler alert ahead

don't say I didn't warn you!

Leisure Seeker, The: A Novel by Michael Zadoorian is about a couple in their 80s who take a cross country trip in their Leisure Seeker camper. They start off from their home in Detroit and follow Route 66 to Disneyland in California. This no ordinary couple. Ella, the wife has cancer and John, the husband, has Alzheimer's. They have left on this trip against the wishes of their doctors and their two grown children. John has rare moments of lucidity, and Ella is in great pain most of the time. Their Leisure Seeker has a faulty exhaust system so they have to ride with their windows open all the time. Can you guess where this might be going? John and Ella have great adventures on their trip; some scary, some funny and some touchingly tender. Ella has promised her husband she will never let him live in a nursing home, but as she is rapidly approaching the end of her life, it is obvious she will not be able to keep this promise to him. When they reach the end of the road she quietly ends their lives by turning on the camper with the windows rolled up. Ella leaves both of their drivers licenses on the table along with a note explaining what she has done.

This book has really given me a lot of food for thought. I can't help but wonder if what Ella did was really so horrible. They were both dying. Did she end their lives too early, or did she alleviate the suffering and indignities they would have faced by prolonging their lives for a few more years. I, personally, feel like she was justified in what she did. Tell me what you think.

Peace,

Wendy

Comments

[Gene Smith]

I tend to get a little "Pauline zealousness" concerning these kinds of questions, and my first thought is, I'm glad Jesus didn't decide to end His suffering a little early. Some may say "way harsh, Gene", and they're probably right, but I can't help but worry where this kind of thinking ends. What suffering is deemed worthy of ending early, and who gets to decide that? To say they were both dying anyway, well aren't we all dying anyway?

I don't want to be "heartless", and I can't say for certain how I would act in a similar circumstance, but as a Christian and follower of Christ, I can find nothing in scripture that supports this action. In fact, this action seems to me to be the ultimate lack of faith - "I don't think God can give me the strength I need to handle this suffering, so I'm just going to end it". Not only did she make that decision for herself, in what could be seen as an act of complete selfishness ("It's getting too hard for me to care for both of us, so what I'll do is just kill both of us then I don't have to worry about it anymore"), she made that decision for him - without knowing what his input on the subject would be (he may have been suffering from alzheimer's, but who is to say he was screaming in his head I WANT TO LIVE, but couldn't any longer communicate that?).

I guess, in the final analysis, while I understand the sentiment, I can't find justification for the act.

[Jean Morris]

Here's a comment on Gene Smith's comment. I have just read this book, too. Just having spent six weeks in medical hell, and with hope in sight, I found this book to be just what I needed to read. What is the difference in Ella's actions and the doctor coming out to tell the grieving family that it is time to remove the ventilator from their loved one? About the only difference I can see is that Medicare and the doctors didn't suck every last dime they could out of the system by prolonging this horrible agony. As I have gotten older, my arrogance in what is 'right or wrong' has changed greatly. Believe me, I want to live as long as I possibly can, but there does come a time when living isn't living any more.

[Jstlookn Elliot]

As a 76 year old woman in a wheel chair from M.S. I have lived with disability for many years. My husband has been on Dialysis for the past five plus years. We are both aware of the sands rushing through the hourglass and have discussed our wish to do 'whatever necessary' to avoid a nursing home.

Gene's comments were interesting, re: Jesus but remember, Jesus was no ordinary man. As we age and are suffering and KNOW what is ahead while we are still alive (neglect, pain, and the horror stories regarding nursing homes), the idea of meeting our maker sooner rather than later, seems like a viable idea to me.

I purchased a book called Final Exit, about thirty years ago. I also purchased a pistol about fifty years ago. I haven't found it necessary to use either one, but certainly feel better about having control over the ending of my life as does my husband. It's about choice...however, if what I'm reading about the current administration and health care, we won't have to worry as society sees us as a drain and useless so health care will probably be withheld.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book review and look forward to reading it.