prayer for dying well

In light of the recent parliamentary vote towards legalising assisted suicide in England and Wales, Helen Byrne and Bex Lawton express the pain, fear, and hope of facing a terminal diagnosis

Jesus, be our guide even to the end (after Psalm 48:14b)

I scarce can take it in:
this deathly diagnosis,
hitting home and hitting hard;
Why me? Why now? Why not break through?
Abundant Life Giver, hear my prayer.

I feel helpless facing such bad news,
scared and overwhelmed by repercussions;
Oh, release me from fear of losing out;
discovering final flourishes in precious time…
Stable Sustainer, hear my prayer.

I am so confused,
suddenly, many health professionals appear;
lots of voices and lots of opinions,
mixed advice exhausts,
How to navigate, and still bless others?
All-Wise Father God, hear my prayer.

I seem small, fragile, emptier;
staff run around in my best interest:
Providing some kind interventions, momentarily;
My loved one’s eyes reflect shared sufferings;
they, too, bear walking this tearing valley.
Please, will drugs soothe savage symptoms?
Gently Powerful Lord, hear my prayer.

I burden the hands of those I used to care for,
vulnerability reversing roles.
Perhaps speeding up death would lessen prolonged pain?
Yet, I beg, stop false hope.
Sacredly advance respect plans, re-order our minds’ peace.
Trustworthy Protector, hear my prayer.

I want to be brave.
Choosing last decisions beneficially,
consciously impacting others.
My capacity wanes, waxing towards the final silence curtain;
Never dismiss me if I cannot speak for myself
allowing closest kin to advocate and amplify,
deeply echoing previous wishes
Faithful Soul Defender, hear my prayer.

I need help to not deny, but accept departure;
letting go of temporary realities.
Simultaneously growing on the resurrection trajectory…
Whatever happens, move any despair mountains, and keep heaven in my sights, for future vitality.
Comforter Christ, hear my prayer

‘And The King will say, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”’ . (Matthew 25:40)

Co-written by Helen Byrne, a community hospital nurse with an interest in palliative care, and Bex Lawton, a paediatric nurse and CMF Head of Nurses & Midwives