One Yes at a Time
This reflection is part of an ongoing series about how The Comfort Project came to be and what we've learned while supporting people pursuing Medical Aid in Dying in Vermont.
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"It felt like two deep roots coming together and sprouting something new," Suzanne said about the day when she and Patty shared their experiences helping people pursue Medical Aid in Dying.
Those deep roots took hold quickly. Suzanne and Patty began to explore the new territory of helping people come from other states to pursue Medical Aid in Dying.
For people to pursue this path, there are many important details to pull together. Eligibility requirements, medical records, permission forms, doctors’ appointments, hospice admissions, a place to stay, to name just some of the details.
Suzanne and Patty asked dozens of people if they would join the cause, because the path of pursuing Medical Aid in Dying from out of state had to be smooth to make it worth taking.
Thanks to their dedication, perseverance, and people skills, their pioneering work was successful.
The community stepped up.
One doctor said yes.
One pharmacist said yes.
One acquaintance opened her home.
They had found enough “yeses” by this time, bolstering their confidence to help more terminally ill people travel to Vermont for Medical Aid in Dying. It was clear their role was essential and they could offer it to those navigating the complexities. They would help people find their way down the path. Today, people in this role are called “Wayfinders.”
Yet, like life, change is inevitable.
Very soon, people arriving in Vermont were bringing new needs, questions, fears, and practical challenges.
It quickly became clear to Suzanne and Patty that they, just like the terminally ill, could not hold all of it alone either.
They sought support in the company of more nurses, hospice volunteers, midwives, physician assistants, caregivers, and friends who felt drawn toward this unusual and deeply human work.
Six women, all seasoned and credentialed professionals in the field, were drawn to the privilege of accompanying people through one of life's most meaningful thresholds with greater comfort.
What had begun with a conversation over tea was quickly becoming something larger.
The Comfort Project was born.
Leslie Zucker
Executive Director
The Comfort Project
P.S. If this reflection offered something meaningful, we invite you to receive future Comfort Notes as we share more stories about connection, community, and the unexpected ways people find one another.
