For those suffering from a terminal illness, nothing is more crushing than the inability to say goodbye. You may know that the end is coming, but you may be doing everything you can to fight it. Sometimes, it is a good idea to realize that saying goodbye can be good for everyone.
What to Think About
Before you decide that now is the time to say goodbye, talk to your loved one who is dying. Find out what his or her final wishes are. By doing this, honoring those wishes, you are able to provide some sense of control for that person. By avoiding it, you are not helping them.
- Talk about the last wishes of the person. This can help ensure that you and your loved one are able to have a special time together.
- Respect the wishes of the dying person. If he or she does not want to be brought back after dying, through artificial means, for example, honor that. It is often the right of the person to decide when enough is enough.
- Talking about your feelings and needs is important too. They want to help you to go through this, in many cases. By offering them the ability to do so, they can feel more control.
For a dying person, saying goodbye is hard, but it is something to do. It gives closure and allows for unspoken things to finally be said. It also allows for everyone to learn what this person’s needs are specifically so you can honor them.