Weaving Delicious Nightmares
REMINDER: The Suicide Tourist
A reminder to all my friends and readers:
The Suicide Tourist, the film which documents my father Craig Ewert’s brave decision to access assisted suicide after contracting ALS / Lou Gehrig’s Disease, will be shown on PBS Frontline at 9 pm ET on Tuesday, March 2.
This is the first time a United States broadcaster has shown the courage to air the film, and marks an important event.
I hope you all will feel comfortable watching the film and asking me any questions you may have.
Best wishes.
Ivan
I watched the Frontline broadcast of your fathers story. My father died of ALS almost thirty years ago. His mothers maiden name was Ewert. They were from East Prussia. I was wondering if you knew if any of your family came from there. Still after all this time still looking for explanations of the disease. thanks
I stumbled onto Frontline tonight. I don’t have the right words to describe how much it touched me. Your father was such a brave man.
I missed some of the beginning, so will watch it again on line. I am sorry if this was covered, and I hope you don’t mind me asking, but was there a decision made to not have other family present when he died?
Nicole
Ivan:
I have just seen the film on PBS of your father’s passing. I cannot thank him. So, I will thank you; your sister; and, your mother. For allowing us all to know your father, albeit much too briefly.
He seemed a very nice guy. Intelligent. Thoughtful. Caring. And, very loving.
We will all miss him.
With sincerity and gratitude, your friend,
Brian Flaherty
Ivan,
I watched the broadcast last night about your father. You must be proud. I know that I have my own torn beliefs on assisted suicide but how your father handled himself was awesome. Like your father basically said, nobody really knows what they would do in that situation UNTIL you ARE in that situation and it really is nobodys decision but the person who is in that situation. It was great that he shared his story with the rest of the world. Myself, I respect each soul no matter how they handle that tough choice. Again you must be proud how your father handled himself with dignity!
I want to thank everyone who’s stumbled upon my blog and has used this space to share their experiences in watching The Suicide Tourist. The fact that you watched my father’s last story and felt strongly enough to seek us out means so very much to me.
Eforhan, I am extremely proud of my father, my mother, my sister, and the end result of the film. I am very thankful that PBS allowed us to share his story with the wider world.
Brian, your words are all spot on the money. Dad was a very smart, very loving man, and I have always considered myself among the luckiest of men to have been born his son.
Nicole, my father made the decision not to have myself or Katrina present at his passing. He felt that it would be too difficult for him – that he would want to keep hugging us, or telling us one last piece of advice, or saying goodbye again. I would have liked very much to have been with him at the end; but as one of his last wishes, I did respect and honor his request.
Siegfried, I’m afraid geneology has never been my strong suit. I do know that some of my family came from the area of Germany, and some remained there through at least the early half of the twentieth century, but I’m afraid I don’t know the exact area they emigrated from to the United States. My aunt (dad’s sister-in-law) has a good deal of that information; I will try to ask her if East Prussia is in the right area.
Again – thank you all, so very much.