I'm truly sorry for what you went through with your dad—I experienced something very similar with mine. In his final stages, he was in constant pain. I remember him reaching out to hold my hand during the worst of it, grimacing as he waited for the spasms to pass. He had colon cancer that had spread to his bladder, and the permanent catheter he needed would often get blocked, causing him unbearable pain. Earlier in his illness, he told me he hoped I would forgive him if the pain ever became too much. I knew what he meant, and I understood.
My uncle also struggled—he was in the early stages of dementia. Some days were better than others, but he had seen what happened to his mother when she no longer recognized her family. She became frightened, regressing to a childlike state, calling out for her mum. My uncle ultimately took his own life in a way that must have been incredibly difficult for him—and devastating for his daughter, who found him.
Having witnessed both of these experiences, I often think how much more humane it would have been if they had had access to a compassionate, dignified end-of-life option. It saddens me that it wasn’t available to them.
I completely understand the anxiety some people feel about euthanasia, but for me, knowing that such an option exists brings comfort. If I ever find myself in unbearable pain or facing the same fate as my mum, gran, and uncle with Alzheimer’s, I want to know I have the ability to make that choice for myself—with dignity and control.