My last summer

[123rd]

I'm not sure I'm going to be able to watch this...really want to but oh dear. It's going To be sad.

[expatinscotland]

I am watching.

[ViviPru]

I was actively going to avoid but have become compelled...

[RabbitPies]

Watching now. How cruel that so many of them have been abandoned by friends and family.

[123rd]

I know. It's is awful. And how the chap who has actively distanced himself

[BadRoly]

I didn't want to watch but it came on when we finished watching a recording and I can't switch it off.

That said, lived through my Dad living for 18mths after a 6mth terminal diagnosis, I do think this is something that needs to be talked about and the taboos around dying and death lifted.

But I foresee tears before bedtime!

[ViviPru]

I was worried it might be a bit gratuitous or exploitative but it seems they're genuinely getting something positive from the experience.

[lucjam]

I also was going to pretend it wasn't on but it is very good. Compelling as someone else said.

[expatinscotland]

I completely agree with being able to decide that you have had enough.

[ballsballsballs]

I thought it was compelling and incredibly moving.

[RabbitPies]

I do too. What's right for one person isn't necessarily for another,and only that person,assuming competent adult here,can make that decision. I'm 100% in favour of improving palliative care,and making it as effective as possible,but there are still circumstances that I'd find intolerable,even if I was pain free. Quality of life is not just about pain management after all.

If I had Alzheimer's for example, then I'd rather go ASAP than linger,particuarly after caring for my grandmother who had end stage COPD,and dementia,and seeing how she suffered. No matter how good my care was,I'd still find the situation intolerable,and would prefer to die.
That doesn't mean that I'm advocating euthanasia for everyone with Alzheimer's,but only that I would not want to live like that,and that no one should force me to do so when I've made my wishes known in advance.

[RabbitPies]

Apologies for the ramble.

It was an interesting if terribly sad show,and it's good to see a subject that so many shy away from,and which is hidden away to an extent,discussed in such depth.

[123rd]

Yes. Glad I watched it. And also glad that this is being shown.

[Glittery7]

I tried to watch it but turned off halfway through. The brutal horror of their situations and the emotional pain experienced as they considered their deaths was too much.

[ballsballsballs]

It certainly wasn't easy to watch Glittery.

[Dextersmummy14]

Jeez sobbing my heart out. My mum was diagnoised in June and passed away in December. They told us she would survive a year. Noway on this earth I would of left her side. I was 20 weeks pregnant when my mum was diagnoised

[ballsballsballs]

I'm so sorry Dexter

[StantonLacy]

Did anyone watch last night?

It was harrowing - I was sobbing nearly the whole way through...can't possibly imagine how painful it was for Sonya and Juniors family.

When Sonya was talking to camera at the end of the episode...I don't think I've ever seen anything so raw and so honest and just so heartbreaking.

These people are so remarkably brave and it is unbelievably sobering to think that it could easily be me or one of my family/friends in this terrible and unfair situation in years to come.

All of the people involved in this programme should be applauded for taking part - it gave such an insight into a desperately sad circumstance but even in the midst of the downright awfullness, humour and love shone through.

[Itsfab]

An incredible programme.

[hermione1968]

I watched this series from the beginning, as I wanted to try to understand how different people coped with being diagnosed with a terminal illness. (My dad had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December last year)
What was blatantly evident was each one dealt with their illness and forthcoming deaths in the way that they felt best for them, which showed us how intrinsically different we all are.
What saddened me was the medias (i.e. newspapers) portrayal that this was glorifying the 'plight' of terminally ill individuals, but then again, I have long become to accept that what the media reports should be taken with a pinch of salt in most cases.
I was also saddened by Jane needing to 'slate' Junior for his choice of allowing the cameras to film him right near to the end. That was his personal decision, as was Jane's in knowing when she wanted the filming to stop.
While I empathised with each and everyone that appeared in the programme, for me, Lou's pure honesty and strength was what shone through the most, and the raw grief that Sonya shared was heartbreaking.
I feel humbled to have been allowed to 'be part' of their Last Summer.

R.I.P. and also to my daddy who was freed from illness on Monday

[elkiedee]

I'm watching the recorded last episode now, I missed the first but have seen the second and third. My mum has terminal cancer. The scenes of Sonya not wanting to move Junior's stuff also struck a chord - my boss died in July 2012, and I was working out my redundancy notice after a restructure, alone in what felt very much like his office even though I'd worked there from 2006. I didn't want to move his stuff, and no one else wanted to deal with it. I would have really liked to just work out my last few weeks in another office, working there felt so hard.

[ImperialBlether]

I'm so sorry for all of your losses. Hermione I am really sorry that you lost your father so recently. May he RIP.

[Itsfab]

hermione1968 - condolences to you.

I am just watching the last programme and your post has made me cry. I am so sorry for you.

I knew before I started watching this series that Junior had died but wasn't expecting more people would pass away.

Ben is such a lovely man and I feel he has been over shadowed in this programme at the beginning. No dependants appears to have made him less of a subject. I really hope someone understands what I mean by that as I can't find the words.

Sonia really moved me too.

Now Ben has gone too .

Sonia and Earl Junior .

iirc Andy was on This Morning not that long ago and he is so sad to see him looking so much weaker.

I am terrified of dying. I have never been with someone who has died or seen a body and that scares me too. I know I am being an idiot and I am sorry for that.

[frogmore6]

I thought Junior's partner was being VERY harsh. The way she insisted on informing Junior's dad- abruptly- I just could not understand it!
I think it was brilliant programme but sad that the guy died alone in his flat. RIP to all

[waterducksback]

I agreed with Jane's point of view. To Jane, Dignity was one of the most important things, that should try to be maintained by the 'carers' at all times.
To me,, junior's partner took away from junior's dignity by going into too much detail towards the end.
Was it really necessary to inform the viewers that during his last few hours he 'stank of death?'
And just because she was crying 24/7 didn't mean to say that one of the quieter members of the group wasn't just as upset.......maybe they were just trying to hold it together to be of support to their partners.

I admired the rock...... he and his family seemed to have a good balance.