E094 Rev Nora Fueten Medical Assistance in My Death

Let’s Be Well Together Podcast - Episode 94
Date: November 14, 2023

Participants: Elise Seifert, Julie Wilson, John Webster, Cameron Earnshaw and Sheila Webster
Guest: Rev. Nora Fueten

Start Times and Segments:

[0:00:15] What’s On Your Mind: Doing something nice for someone else reduces stress, helps our emotional wellbeing and even our physical health. We talk about 20 act of kindness from an article, “50 random acts of kindness you can do today”, from Mental Health Foundation.

[0:05:59] Expanding Minds Interview: [Physical and Mental Wellness] We interview Rev. Nora Fueten.⁠ On episodes 89 and 90, Nora shared her experiences after facing a terminal cancer diagnosis. This time Nora shares her thoughts about seeking medical assistance in death (MAID). Nora believes it gives her the opportunity to make a decision about how long she wants to live, especially if she gets to the point where the quality of life becomes significantly impaired. It provides an opportunity to take her destiny into her own hands and make up her own mind. It’s important to be able to say enough already, particularly nowadays when medicine can keep us going forever and ever. It’s not because she doesn’t love life and all its beauty, but there is going to be an end anyway. She prefers to be able to make her own decision.

[0:21:46] Adventures of the Starving Artist: There was a sort of wardrobe malfunction during then long-haired Cameron’s first performance with the progressive metal group Emissivity. Under the laws of physics, glasses apparently go flying when you’re doing the windmill head bang move.

[0:26:26] Move That Body: Not letting bad weather stop us from moving that body. Enjoyed a walk on a blustery cold day.

[0:32:39] Running Popup: John like the idea of trying to be childlike, not childish. He’s thinking about what that might look. It probably involves being creative and seeing the having a feeling of. Wonder when we see the world around us.

[0:35:13] Flipside of the Coin: Cameron’s wardrobe malfunction with Emissivity was minor compared to the one Elise experienced as emcee at a friend’s wedding.

Quotes and Take-Aways:

Rev. Nora – I’m considering medical assistance in dying (MAID) because I feel it gives me the opportunity to make a decision about how long I want to live, especially if I get to the point where the quality of life becomes significantly impaired. I’m currently enjoying a quality of life. I’m not interested in going through a lot of pain and I’m not interested in having to be cared for 24/7.

Rev. Nora – It’s a good feeling to know that there’s this opportunity to take your destiny into your own hands and make up your own mind. We have free will throughout our life. It’s very important for us to be able to say enough already, particularly nowadays when medicine can keep us going forever and ever. 

Rev. Nora – I’ve heard from many people that being involved with a medically assisted death is a very moving experience.

Rev. Nora – Medical assistance in dying would be my preference if I get to the point where I can’t enjoy life anymore. It’s not because I don’t love life and all its beauty and all the people I know and everything else, but there is going to be an end anyway. I prefer to be able to make my own decision.

Rev. Nora – There’s no compulsion. Having signed on for medical assistance in dying (MAID), I do not need to follow through with it if I don’t want to.

Bulletin Board Quote brought to you by Elise: Horrifying, embarrassing, but super funny now.

Guest Information: Reverend Nora Fueten is retired and she’s a United Church Minister. She studied Music at University of Calgary and obtained her Masters of Divinity from Emanuel College at University of Toronto. Some experiences include growing up in the Brantford area, five years as a vocal coach and assistant conductor with an opera in Dusseldorf, Germany, sheep farming in Brant County and leading a cappella choir. She’s active politically and was a Green Party candidate. Her husband Horst, who passed away in 2018, was born in Germany. Nora has two daughters, a stepson and three grandchildren.

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Thanks for joining us,
(-(-_(-_-)_-)-)   Your wellness check-in team
John, Sammy, Cameron, Sheila, Elise, Isabelle and Julie