*Living your life at best - - ความหมายของการมีชีวิตอยู่

Have you ever heard of someone giving up his/her life?

Before leaving for home this evening, I heard from dad that grandpa's brother hanged himself this afternoon, after struggling with his terminal-staged cancer for months. Now he is carefully monitored in ICU. Dad was there but told me not to go. He is still breathing, the doctor is checking his brain function yet no guarantee.

This brought me to another terminal-staged cancer case of Randy Pausch (October 23, 1960 – July 25, 2008). He was an American professor of computer science, human-computer interaction and design at CMU in Pittsburgh, PA. He has passed away 3 months ago, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He lived each day at best, self-encouragingly fought with chemo and everything, although the doc said that he had only "3-6 months of good health left" in September 2006.

His last 20 months was spent with quality, leaving the world with lots of inspiring things. Some examples would be his "Last Lecture" speech at CMU; his neighbor witnessed him with a smile on this face in the most private of public moments, driving back home; a chance to be in the film "Star Trek" and even had a line! [The movie will be in theaters May 2009 in USA. Don't blink or you'll miss him, but at some point a guy walked across the bridge and says "Captain, we have visual!"] ...Although he died too soon, I must say he had lived his life so meaningful and worthwhile. His 3 little kids, Dylan, Logan, and Chloe, must be so proud of him when they grow up.

Well, I know I shouldn't compare a cancer patient in his age of 60's with that of 40's, but I always think that making a choice to end own life is too hopeless, regardless of loved ones left behind. It is too sad if we keep concerning about how miserable our lives are and what unfairly brought such things to our lives. Instead, we should live our lives at best and sieze every moment we have. Everything come to us for a reason. And no matter what it is, we should embrace all and bring out the best of it. Thanks to Randy, now I am learning what it really means when someone say "live your life everyday as if it is the last day of your life!"


......

Dad is already home. He told me that grandpa's brother is still in ICU. Heart and lungs are fine, but the doctor is still working on the brain. If I am right, human life is considered the end as the brain stop functioning. So I guess his last breath would come shortly. I wish grandpa's brother leave the world with no miseries...

......

UPDATE :: 21-10-08

I took lunch break earlier to visit him at the hospital; unfortunately, I was only less than 20 minutes late. He is gone quietly before anyone know. I just got back from his funeral with frustration. He should have lived his life more meaningful, otherwise those who left behind would not be upset and sorrowful.

One lesson learned, do not leave elders with serious sickness unattended. You have no idea what such people with extensive distress can do!

For you, เหล่าเจ็กไล้, I wish you rest in peace... Please keep watching over your children, they are having a hard time questioning and regretting of your final decision.