b'Hyshka to the approval of the process took about ten days, and through that time, Lester was asked many times, if he was certain of his decision to proceed with MAiD. The six weeks leading up to Lesters chosen date we spent exploring the backcountry of Ontario and visiting family and friends. Even snowstorms wouldnt hold us back. Our last weekend together, Lester and I went to morning co ee with friends and to dinner at our favorite restaurant Wixan Bridge in Uxbridge. The restaurant had no idea that Lester was ill nor that it would be his last meal, but their presentation was uniquely beautiful and certainly made for a special last dinner together. Weawokeasusualonthe23rdtohaveco eeand breakfast together. Our daughters, Dianne and Sharon, ar-ftermorethan58yearsCompetencyinmakingarived a short time after to have co ee with their dad and of marriage, my husbanddecisionsuchasthisiscru- to enjoy the last moments together as a family. Dr. Dayal Lester Baylis took his lastcial,andafterbeingdeemedarrived, prepared the medication, and asked again if Lester breath just one week shy of hiseligible,Lesterwasreferredwas sure of his decision. Before administering the drugs, 83rd birthday. It wasnt a typicalto Dr. Dayal for a second as- she gave Lester another opportunity to withdrawal his end of life scenario but plannedsessment. Dr. Dayal was veryrequest, con rmed that he was still mentally capable of through the Medical Assistancecompassionate,spokefrommaking this choice and obtained hisnal consent to pro-in Dying Program (MAiD). her heart and related to Lesterceed. I was especially chatty that morning, and Lester told in terms he could understand.the girls that their mother was talking too much making Lester su ered a heart attack She concluded that Lester wasthem laugh.Lester was a part of the whole process, com-in2000resultingindoublecompetenttomakethedeci- municating right up to the minute before he took his last bypasssurgery.In2009,hesion as well. breath. The process was peaceful, safe and loving. su ered a second heart attackLesterthenmetwithDr.Dr. Dayal completed the death certi cate and then we and had a pacemaker/de bril- Nasser-Sharifwhocon rmedcontacted the funeral home where Lester was cremated. latorinstalledatSt.MichaelsthediagnosisandsupportedHe was later laid to rest in his penthouse condo in the Hospital in Toronto. These lifehis wish to apply for MAiD.columbarium overlooking Greenbank. savingmeasuresgaveLesterInordertomakethisdeci- I want to share Lesters story - our story, with the and I a couple of extra decadession you must separate deathworld,tohelpremovethestigmaaroundMAiDand ofqualitylife,allowingus(inevitable)fromtheprocesstohelpothersunderstandtheprocess.Idonthave totravelandmakeamazingto reach your end of life. Shebad memories of the last days of my husbands life. I memoriestogetheruntil2020too concluded Lesters compe- didnt witness him struggling. His last days could have whenLestersheartbegantoLester and Audrey Baylis. tency. With all doctors willingbeen very di erent where he would have su ered, and deteriorate.His family Doctor,tohonourLestersdecisionI would have been left with those memories instead of Dr.Hyshka,Dr.Nasser-Shariflife was squashed with the de nitivecombinedwiththereportsthe wonderful ones we made. The support from the lo-who was his Heart Specialist for overreportfromSt.MichaelsHospital:fromSt.Michaelshospital,hewascal medical stawas phenomenal and everyone was so 20 years, and St. Michaels Hospitalnothing more could be done.admitted to the MAiD program.compassionate throughout the process. pacemaker/de brillatorclinicdidIttooksometimeforLestertoLesterchosehisbirthdayofSomeofourlong-timefriendshavenotunderstood avarietyofmedicaltestsandcon- emotionallyandmentallycometoNovember29thtomakehistransi- Lesters decision but I remain hopeful that with time and cluded that they had provided all thetermswithhisapproachingdeathtion. However, his condition declinededucation those relationships will mend and heal. It was a medical options to prolong quality ofand the loss of control over the qual- so rapidly that he requested an earlierdeeply personal decision, one that questioned both his and life and they only could o er him endity and quantity of life. This inspireddate of November 23. With the datemy fundamental beliefs, challenged our conversations and of life support and care. him to look at the aspects of the situa- set,wewentbacktoSt.Michaelswas considered from every imaginable angle. Lesters de-Until this declaration, Lester hadtion where he could maintain control.Hospitaltohavehispacemaker/ cision was what was right for him. And in the end, Lesters alwaysbelievedthathewoulddieLester spoke to his family doctor, Dr.de brillatordeactivatedinordertoend was on his terms and that is a wonderful thing. justlikehisownfatherdiedofaHyshka about the possibility of MAiDmeettheMAiDrequirements.TheThe way the legislation is currently written around massivecoronarymanyyearsear- in the fall of 2020. Our daughter Diannedoctor had a discussion with LesterMAiD is that death must be imminent, meaning that this lier.As his legs and hands began toand myself accompanied Lester to alland agreed, deemed him competentprocess cannot be something that is a personal choice in swellwithedema,theshortnessofof his appointments. Dr. Hyshka dis- and deactivated the unit. advance, it cannot be done through a power of attorney or breathbeganhinderinghisactivecussed his condition, what his qualityThenextsteprequiredanurseat the time of writing ones will meaning that it cannot be lifestyle and with a heart functioningof life would be going forward and thepractitionertocometoourhomepre-ordered and it cannot be a designated act.Recently, at less than 10%, the doctors reportMAiD Program with him. At the endand interviewed Lester separately toC7 the new bill to amend the original Bill C14 was passed con rmedLesterssuspicionthataof their discussion she deemed Lesterensure that there was no coercion, thatMarch 17, 2021 and there have been signi cant changes. slow, deterioration toward death wascompetent to make the decision to ap- hehadntchangedhisdecisionandPreplanning for MAiD continues to be discussed by our imminent. Any optimism of furtherply for MAiD, which Lester requestedto re-con rm Lesters state of mind.government ocials. treatment to improve his quality ofDr. Hyshka to proceed with. FromtheearlydiscussionswithDr.Please turn to page 3836 FOCUS - JULY 2021'