Saturday, September 20, 2008

September 20, 2008 A Documentary's Journey

Taking Dying Wish into the world is fulfilling and challenging.  We are thrilled at the interest in this film, and its potential use for end-of-life education.  

We could honestly go on a national - perhaps international tour of hospices to show the film and talk about using it with patients, families, caregivers, if someone would fund us to do this! It could really be a full-time job!  SEND US YOUR DONATIONS, NOW!

We are doing what we can, and slowly, but surely, we are making an impact.

Recently, the Ojai film festival invited us to show the film in California in November.  We'll be appealing for donations to make that happen!  It's a great achievement - and we want to make the most of it. (Filmmakers generally pay their own way.)

Meanwhile, you can see from our website what we have been doing.

It is wonderful to hear from people about how the film is being used.  One Canadian end-of-life worker recently told me about an experience with a dying patient.  This patient had ALS and had already "attempted" a fast that would move him closer to his death.  It had been ill-thought out, and undertaken without planning - and without the patient really having considered what he was doing.  The patient, his wife, and the end-of-life worker watched the film together, and it opened up an entire conversation about the why , when, and how of refusing food and fluids. The patient and his partner were reportedly "glued to the screen" throughout the film, and felt very comforted seeing Michael's dying process.  No pun intended - but Dying Wish was really food for thought.

That's the goal of Dying Wish and it is what we will be presenting at the Colorado and national hospice conferences in October...a picture of how documentaries like Dying Wish can open doors to discussions about sensitive issues and facilitate a more conscious approach to death and dying.
Karen van Vuuren


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