It was inevitable. Anyone who’s been reading the blog will know that my final destination in this world will be Switzerland, for the service provided by Dignitas.
A short while ago we agreed a date in the first half of December. The flight will probably be exhausting so the next day will be a complete day of rest in the hotel during which I’ll do a final blog post. The following day to Dignitas. I’ll be in the company of three good friends.
It’s all rather sad but it has to happen. Despite the magnificent support all around me the MND/ALS continues to tear me apart. Getting though each day and night is an ever-increasing struggle against an overpowering and unstoppable illness.
For the record let me say again that I know I’m doing the right thing for me, that I’m ready for it, and that I’m completely reconciled to it. I am sad but not depressed. I have almost no quality of life these days. The MND is dreadful and it gets worse daily. My only regrets are (a) that MND chose me to torment to death, and (b) that I have to travel abroad to have the calm, easy end that I wish. I’m very thankful that the Swiss option is available.
There will be at least one more blog post before I travel. I’m now 74 by the way. Started the 75th year a few days ago. No “Happy Birthdays” please. Too late, thankfully! Nice age though.
… atque in perpetuum, frater, ave atque vale …
My thoughts and prayers are with you all the way, and also with your dear friends who will be by your side.
I am sure all our hearts are too full to put our feelings into words, but you know we re with you in spirit.
Your bravery has been an example to us all, and it is sad to learn that the illness has at last become too much to bear any further. You have chosen a rational and sensible way of leaving it behind, and I hope the process will not be distressing. You will be greatly missed, especially by the St Catharine’s Society, and we send our moral support all the way.
As Meriel says, my heart is too full to express all the emotions. Such sadness that this cruel illness has plagued you in these last years and that you have to make this exhausting journey now to end your life as you desire and deserve But also relief and gratitude that you have, at last, the chance to fulfill your wish I’m so relieved, too, that you have such good and true friends to support you. The bravery of you all is amazing.
So many people love you and care about you Dave, and will be thinking of you in the coming days. We shall miss you so much but remember so many wonderful things about you xx
I can do little but echo all of the comments above. Vivienne and I are in that multitude who love and care for you; you will not be far from our thoughts and prayers over the coming days. In the years ahead we will recall how honoured we felt to call you friend and will think of you with joy.
Thinking of you David
Thinking of you with love David and so sorry you journey included this monstrous journey. I will support re research etc. for the rest of my days. Mel xxx
I’m thinking of you David x
May God hold you in the palm of His hand as “heaven’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee.”
Huge amounts of love and support flowing to you from us in Suffolk. Safe trip next week. To find your peace in such a beautiful country will be a blessing.
David…. good will, old friendship and kind regard… I’ll drink you a cup of kindness… Thank you, again… Graeme
My thoughts are with you. Sending you all my love.
Dear David as usual I failed to send my original message!
My thoughts are with you and your courage and fortitude in this time of your life, my you leave us in peace. I will continue to fight and hopefully one day we will not have to leave our country end our life.
Remember the fun times you had with all your friends as we will remember you with love and hope.
Love Brenda E
It has been a privilege to know you David. Good memories of Cats Society, which we now have to call Alumni Society apparently. All the best for your journeys.
Thankyou for the Blog _ amusing, inspiring and revealong.
Bon voyage -always remembered…
Dom Price
x
Dear David,
Having been a neighbour of yours for several decades and involved in HDRA with you – you set the scene in our area for a kind and caring community from which we have all benefitted. We had lots of fun times with much laughter. As many have already said, it has truly been an honour to have known you and to have been a friend.
May peace be with you. Certainly Peace will always be within our hearts.
Bon voyage.
With love,
Amanda x
Dear David
We have only known each other for 10 or 15 years, through St Catharine’s and the St Catharine’s Society. At our age that begins to feel only a short time, but we have been good friends and so often seen eye to eye. It has been a privilege to know you, and an entertainment to read your wonderful blog; you have been an inspiration to us during these last years of your appalling bodily torment. Barbara and I will never forget you. Fond farewells from Ireland.
Stephen
Dear David,
I must thank you for your frank and enlightening blogs…. thanks to you, I get to understand aspects of what a close relative is dealing with (e.g. life with a PEG as part of their cancer treatment) when, in stark contrast to you, they feel unable to discuss their treatment and prognosis. It is crushing – as a helpless bystander – to read of the imminent end. Friends who know you better than I are using words like brave along with their love for you. Although I didn’t get to know you well, I feel admiration, both for those blogs and for your capacity to remain pragmatic about your life, given the cruel circumstances, and to retain control of how it ends. I can only hope for an ounce of that strength of character when the time comes. Our little corner of Marylebone is the better for having you in it and for leading our residents’ group. We will remember you here.
Safe travels and fair winds on the final journey.
Dear David,
Our paths only crossed through St Catharine’s Society – but you were a giant there!
You had such creativity, insight and energy and led the Society programme with elegance and aplomb. For my part, I remember and treasure our conversations. It has been a privilege to know you.
Wishing you peace.
Yours ever,
Rona
Dear David,
I have only had the privilege to know you for fewer than ten years but you have been a shining star as an inspiration to young people in college and as a friend with whom to share deep thoughts or funny moments. I can’t even imagine how you have lived with the illness in the last few years. I only know that I have the greatest respect for your decision to leave this earth reconciled with you and the world. May you arrive safely and joyously at the other shore; you will always remain deeply in my heart.
Harald
We are so sorry that you have had to endure this terrible illness David. Your courage in dealing with it is amazing as an inspiration to us all. We have very much enjoyed the times that we have spent with you at Catz and really appreciate all that you have done for the College. Our thoughts are with you at this sad time. Sending you lots of love
We have heard the chimes at midnight Master Peace.
Jesus, the days that we have seen.
Dear David, reading the Peace of Mind journal over the weeks has been inspirational for us and, indeed, our children. « Chapeau bas » for what you have achieved in your ( gallivanting) professional life, and for the humour, philosophy and positiveness that kept transpiring in your blog. As we would say in French to a person we genuinely admire: « respect! ». Memories of our time in AlKhobar will always remain with us. Our deep affection accompanies you in the coming days.
Nathalie & Christian.
Dear David,
It has been a privilege and an honour to have known you, a person whose positive influence on so many people has been profound. My very warmest wishes and thoughts go with you on your courageous journey.
Wishing you a safe and comfortable journey David. Pleased your going out on your own terms. I shall pop a bottle of bubbles and remember the good times. I can’t manage a whole bottle these days but I will push myself to a couple of glasses and get the old photos out. It’s been a pleasure.
All my love, Mary x
You are so loved Dave, and thank you for everything you have brought into our lives. I am so glad that you will finally be free of pain but so very sorry it has had to be this way. All my love, always, Cam xxxx
I am sending you my love, David.
Working together with you at St. Catharine’s, and your love and dedication to the College, and the Society, is a memory I will treasure. You were always interested in the archives and I always enjoyed talking to you about College history and personalities. Your determination has served you well. I wish you calmness and peace.
Sending you my love, David.
Dear David,
I heard via Tony Watts at the Society that the progress of your illness has come close to completing its arc. Before that happened, I wanted to drop a note of gratitude to you for your care and support over the ten plus years we’ve known each other through the London Society and the College Society. I have fond memories of sharing a beer and pizza with you in the sun at Sandy’s on Seymore Place many years back as we plotted and schemed about social events in London and for the Society at large! And then being dragged (I hasten to add – willingly!) onto the Society Committee to support that endeavour, which you guided so selflessly.
Your energy and willingness to serve and support all communities you have been in contact with will be remembered as a shining example to those of us that have been blessed with a bit more time on this mortal coil. I hope that we can follow your sterling example, and come up to the mark that you’ve set. Without doubt, your work for the Society has left it in a much stronger position and ready to enter its next 100 years looking forwards at how we can support the St Catz community of tomorrow.
Whilst I can’t yet comprehend the strength and fortitude that you must bring to every day, I hope that in these final few days there is space for joy and deep connection with this amazing shining universe that we each have been given a short time to experience and enjoy in all its richness.
With deepest gratitude.
Hugh
Dear David,
You have been a completely delightful friend, an inspiration in many things, a very good neighbour and, more prosaically, a mentor in all things committee lead. I have loved that our lives have overlapped in so many ways, both as neighbours, committee members (where your wisdom, humour and patience shine through) and that both you and my daughter Helen went to Catz, did classics and sang your way through your degrees in that lovely chapel. The only thing she didn’t share with you was rowing, so no signed oars on the wall for us!
Thank you for writing this blog – no mean feat, and very good reading – enlightening, horrifying and amusing to the end. You will be greatly missed by us all. I am glad that you will be able to put the pain behind you, but very much wish it hadn’t been like this.
with much love
Lucy
Hey Cousin,
All our thoughts are with you, such courage is quiet humbling. Wherever this journey takes you I’m sure you will make your mark there too.
You will never be forgotten
Love Paul
David,
just want to say thanks for all you did for the college, for inviting me to talk at Society events, for numerous enjoyable conversations over the years and your gentle leadership