Exclusive Excerpt of my Book - A Story About Assisted Suicide, Love and Hope.

Here is a brief excerpt—that I have translated in English—of the book I am writing in French about my experience assisting my husband 11 years ago. Suffering from a deadly, painful and incapacitating disease, he made the choice of ending his life as part of the Swiss right-to-die Organization “Exit.” We had both the courage to face our own ordeal. His was to leave his family, mine was to watch him die. This real story is as painful as full of hope.

Book cover created by Jean-Michel Ochsenbein using pictures: "Forest in Autumn" licensed under FCC BY 2.0 and "Water on Window" with a standard license purchased.

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Death, in its raw form, appears to us intolerable when it separates us from those we love. Death is never a welcome visitor, nor is it expected, and we loathe its unwelcoming intrusion into our lives. We would rather live it up and embrace life to the fullest!
But Death remains inevitable, as it waits for us around the corner. What is the meaning of the Big Unknown? Do we have to fear eternal oblivion or should we rejoice at the continuity of life? Is there a hidden meaning or even sacred one?

Tibetan monks meditate during their life's entirety in order to get ready when they must face it, explaining that “meditation on death is beneficial as well as important.” This subtle and sensible way of seeing life resonates deep inside me. From the very first day he decided to end his suffering and die as part of EXIT, the “right-to-die” Swiss organization, a profound awareness of the intrinsic dignity of the other emerged within, forcing me to transcend anger and sadness. Through resilience, I was able to widen and deepen my consciousness.

My intuition as a loving mother watching his child take his first steps, stumbling and falling, bouncing back and then, step by step, stabilizing himself to get his balance eventually, guided me on my journey. Meditation and prayers, as a part of my daily routine, bring me serenity, silence and the simple joy of existing. Meditating on death can make you humble and more aware of the miracle of Life.

Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross whose reputation is firmly established, is the author, among others, of the book entitled On Death and Dying. She sheds light on the terminally ill patient’s journey, and narrates her own experiences of NDE (Near Death Experience), a compelling compilation of life lessons tending to prove an after life.

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Nathalie Ochsenbein