Stories Archives - Maine Death with Dignity

Category: Stories

Hospice and MAiD: Collaboration and Cooperation, Building a Continuum of Care

Posted on December 5, 2025December 5, 2025 by Valerie Lovelace

Give yourself the gift of time and take in this important conversation (about 70 minutes) between Dr. Jeremy Boal, former Chief Medical Officer of Mt. Sinai Medical System, who recently learned he has ALS, and Professor David Hoffman, Clinical Ethicist, Healthcare Attorney, and Advisor to the Completed LifeCONTINUE READING »

Freeport Visit

Posted on October 6, 2022May 31, 2023 by Valerie Lovelace

We had a lovely time in Freeport on October 5, 2022, with the good folks at Maine Senior Guide. Maine Death with Dignity's Executive Director, Val Lovelace, was the keynote speaker!

Death with Dignity: How I helped my Dad Die

Posted on January 28, 2021July 19, 2021 by Valerie Lovelace

This story is reposted in it's entirety from Bloomberg Business Week, where it was originally published by journalist Esmé Deprez, daughter of Maine resident Ron Deprez, on January 27, 2021. An additional link is also provided to a similar republication from January 28, 2021, by NDTV. Our deepestCONTINUE READING »

Making Peace with Life Through Death, Part 3: Proceeding

Posted on August 10, 2020November 11, 2022 by Valerie Lovelace

Republished from Death With Dignity National Center. Maine resident Karen Wentworth is the second patient to access the Maine Death with Dignity Act, which went into effect in September 2019. In the final installment of this 3-part series, Karen reads from an essay she wrote after she obtained the death-hasteningCONTINUE READING »

Making Peace with Life Through Death, Part 2: Processing

Posted on August 9, 2020November 11, 2022 by Valerie Lovelace

Republished from Death with Dignity National Center. Maine resident Karen Wentworth is the second patient to access the Maine Death with Dignity Act, which went into effect in September 2019. In the second installment of this 3-part series, Karen reads from an essay she wrote after she obtained the death-hasteningCONTINUE READING »

Making Peace with Life Through Death, Part 1: Preparing

Posted on July 19, 2020November 11, 2022 by Valerie Lovelace

Republished from Death with Dignity National Center. Maine resident Karen Wentworth is the second patient to access the Maine Death with Dignity Act, which went into effect in September 2019. In the first installment of this 3-part series, Karen reads from an essay she wrote after she obtainedCONTINUE READING »

Maine Patient on “Making the Call”

Posted on July 8, 2020July 13, 2020 by Valerie Lovelace

Karen Wentworth, a resident of South Portland, Maine, shares her experience as a terminally ill patient qualifying for the Maine Death with Dignity Act on "Making the Call," a medical ethics podcast. Joined by Peg Sandeen, PhD, Executive Director of Death with Dignity National Center, they discuss withCONTINUE READING »

Cyndie’s Story

Posted on March 21, 2019July 19, 2021 by Valerie Lovelace

Cyndie Rogers is a Maine Death with Dignity volunteer in Gray, Maine. She told this story to the Death with Dignity National Center in January 2019. * Since 2015, I have been living with lymphoma. Just before Thanksgiving last year, I learned I have breast cancer as well.CONTINUE READING »

Chris’s Story: Keeping A Promise

Posted on January 31, 2019July 19, 2021 by Valerie Lovelace

Chris Trider is a retired electrician in Leeds and a Maine Death with Dignity volunteer. He told the Death with Dignity National Center this story in January 2019. * My wife, Karen, passed away from liver cancer in October 2018. When doctors discovered the cancer several months earlier,CONTINUE READING »

Why I Volunteer

Posted on October 11, 2018July 19, 2021 by Valerie Lovelace

by Karen Hinson, volunteer petition circulator, Town of Machias, Maine * I learned death was part of life at an early age. The doctors, nurses, and dentists in my family talked about blood and guts at the dinner table. As a hospice volunteer I later learned of theCONTINUE READING »

Donna Wiegle: “The Choice About How Things Go”

Posted on July 9, 2018July 19, 2021 by Valerie Lovelace

Donna Wiegle is the founder of Eldercare Outreach of Swan's Island. She lives in Swan's Island. She told us this story, which first appeared at Death with Dignity National Center's website, in June 2018. * I survived my first bout with cancer nearly 30 years ago. Then, inCONTINUE READING »

Eva Thompson (1959-2017): “It should be my choice”

Posted on December 29, 2017June 7, 2023 by Valerie Lovelace

We were deeply saddened to learn of the death today of Reverend Eva Thompson, a steadfast advocate for Death with Dignity legislation in Maine. She was 58 years old. Eva did not live long enough to see the Maine Death with Dignity Act come to fruition. During herCONTINUE READING »

Rebecca Van Wormer (1974-2017): “I want the option to go on my terms”

Posted on October 15, 2017June 7, 2023 by Valerie Lovelace

A resident of East Millinocket, Maine, Rebecca VanWormer told us her story in August 2015. She died in January 2017 . * I’m 43 years old and I’m dying of cancer. My goal is to live as long as I can but when I get to the pointCONTINUE READING »

Holly Best on Maine Death with Dignity

Posted on March 12, 2016June 7, 2023 by Valerie Lovelace

Holly's husband, Jack, suffered immeasurably with cancer prior to his death. She shared her story with us in 2016, hoping to one day see a death with dignity law pass in Maine. Holly continued treatment and cared for herself in the best way possible, living long enough toCONTINUE READING »