Coping With a Health Issue Part-2

Sarah's best friend, Suzie lived and worked in Sandiego. She was a kindergarten teacher at Little Acorn Nursery School. Sarah already had talked about her health issue with her friend and her plan for a bucket list. Suzie knew Sarah wanted to go sightseeing with her in New York. There were three things Sarah wanted to encounter: Niagara Falls, the Statue of Liberty, and Times Square. Suzie had taken four days off from work to give time to Sarah.

As they landed in New York, they reached a booked hotel by a taxicab. After refreshing, having breakfast, and taking a stroll around the hotel, they gradually started on their way to the historical monument, the Statue of Liberty. "The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World" was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States and was recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. Sarah and Suzie took lots of photos near the statue.

Next, they visited Niagara Falls. It was a breathtaking natural wonder that spanned the border between the United States and Canada. To have a look at Niagara Falls from the American side, Niagara Falls State Park, the oldest state park in the US offered vantage points to admire the Falls.

Within the park, Sarah and Suzie found observation points like Prospect Point Observation Tower and Terrapin Point, which provided excellent views of the Falls. Sarah and Suzie were mesmerized and took beautiful snapshots.

The next day, they took a taxicab to Times Square to see the commercial and cultural heart of New York City. It was home to everything from street performers and protestors to family-friendly restaurants and attractions like Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and Ripley’s Believe It or Not Exhibition Galleries. After dining roast beef with potato chips, a salad, and cold drinks, they headed back to their hotel and then back to Sandiego. The next morning, Sarah flew home to Los Angeles.

Taking two days' rest, Sarah was up again with her bucket list. She decided on a small Europe tour with her boyfriend. Steve took a week off from work and was ready to journey on the tour to the Netherlands, France, and Switzerland.

Sarah and Steve started early in the morning on one weekend from their home city. It took them several hours to reach Amsterdam, Netherlands. Sarah was very much interested in visiting the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The renovated museum told the story of the Netherlands from the Middle Ages to the 20^th Century. It exhibited artworks by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Fans Hals, and more. Sarah and Steve stayed at the museum for two whole hours, absorbing all the enigma of the museum.

Then, they walked around for some time before heading to the hotel for lunch. Taking rest, they reached the airport to fly to Paris, France to get a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower was a wrought-iron lattice tower in Paris. It was named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower from 1887 to 1889. The Tower had three levels for visitors, with restaurants on the first and second levels. After climbing by stairs to the first level, Sarah and Steve took the elevator to the third floor to have lunch there.

After moving back to the ground floor and loitering around, they took a taxicab to their hotel and had an hour's nap. They packed their bags, heading for the airport. In about an hour, they reached Geneva, Switzerland. They had booked a Top Geneva Sightseeing Tour. Sarah and Steve got acquainted with the spectacular sights of Geneva on the tour.

They cruised the city in a warm coach and listened to the captivating commentary from their guide as they saw top city attractions. They gazed at the shimmering surface of Lake Geneva and disembarked for a leisurely walk around Geneva’s Old Town, guided by a local expert.

Finishing the tour in Geneva, Sarah and Steve returned to their homes in Los Angeles. Sarah was exhausted but excited and kept pouring in details of her Europe tour to her family. It was obvious she found the tour amazing and interesting. She had ticked off the last items on her bucket list.

She said, “I will make a final decision regarding what I said earlier. Steve will be here late in the morning tomorrow, and we can all talk together.”

Her parents agreed and said okay. They bade each other goodnight and went off to sleep. It was a tense night. The parents wondered if Sarah had changed her mind while she stayed up late at night, lying down and thinking about her decision. She felt she knew what was left to do. She was ready to confront her family in the morning.

Morning arrived. The parents got up and let Sarah sleep on. Within an hour, she was up also. Steve arrived. They all sat for breakfast.

After breakfast was over, Sarah began, "I have checked off all the items from my bucket list. Now, I still feel good. Dec 1, 2023, in fact, this year, I decided to end my life. I would like to talk to the doctor who confirmed that date for me."

Steve said, “I have his number. Do you want to talk to him?”

Sarah said, “Yes.”

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Steve dialed the number and waited for the doctor to respond. Finally, he said, "Hello."

“Dr. Bruce, this is Steve. Sarah would like to talk to you.”

“Sure,” came Dr. Bruce’s voice.

“Dr. Bruce,” said Sarah, “My death was scheduled for Dec 1. But I still feel good, finishing off my bucket list items.”

"Are you sure you want to end your life, or have you changed your mind?"

“No, I haven’t changed my mind,” said Sarah.

"In that case, keep Dec 1, 2023, intact otherwise, other extra charges might add up."

“That’s all I wanted to hear, Dr. Bruce. I am ready,” said Sarah

Accordingly, when Dec 1, 2023, arrived two days later, late in the evening, Dr. Bruce arrived with a white substance in a sealed packet that would help to take away Sarah's life when she swallowed it, but she would feel no pain, and it would happen very naturally and adequately.

Sarah’s close friends, relatives, and neighbors were seated on the bed where Sarah would ingest the substance brought by Dr. Bruce.

When Sarah was ready and everyone she wanted was present, Dr. Bruce broke the packet and forwarded it a little ahead toward Sarah. She still had to come forward from her side to take it and put it in her mouth.

Accordingly, she did just that. She felt dizzy and could no longer remain stable. The substance gradually took her life, and her favorite people and loved ones caught her and held her.

Last Thoughts of Sarah Ashley

All the people I love are with me now. I don’t feel sad or sorry for leaving the world. I am glad to be able to give relief to my mind and body. God would understand my pain and willingly let me step into the other realm of this world. I guess I will be happy in my afterlife and wait patiently for my loved ones to join and unite with me. It is a decision well taken. I am dying with dignity. And I am incredibly happy for that reason. Thank you to everyone among my loved ones. Thank you, Dr. Bruce. Yes, I am indeed glad to be able to die with dignity.

Previous Related Article

Coping With a Health Issue Part-1

This article describes how Sarah comes into the Adler family and how they take care of her and love her. She grows up and finishes university. While she is looking for a job, she starts experiencing severe headaches. That is when the story unfolds to portray Sarah's illness and the decision she takes. Click the link above to read more.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2024 Rosina S Khan