Bearing Kamalashila in mind
Please send metta to our beloved Kamalashila as he travels his last few days in this realm.
Here is an update Yashobodhi, Kamalashila’s partner, posted on Facebook this morning (25 September 2024).
“Here is a sad message about the latest development around Kamalashila.
Yesterday there was a big meeting of a medical team plus Kamalashila’s sisters Esther, Zoë and myself. Kamalashila’s health was coming to a critical point. Possible scenarios were discussed and weighed up. After careful consideration it was decided to not instigate new treatment for KS. His kidneys are failing, transplantation is not an option for someone with cancer, and dialysis was going to be too invasive and was not going to lead to him having a workable quality of life.
Before the meeting, when Esther and I were with him, he said repeatedly: “Free me.” He also added a few times: “I mean it.” He has difficulty forming words, but his mind is undoubtedly present. It was clear to me and others. He wanted the treatments to stop. The medical team also included a doctor from palliative care who has known him since May and who has had several conversations with him about quality and end of life. So this is what he wants. He wants quality of life and there was no route left for him.
After the decision was taken, we went back to him. Monitors were switched off. A bright light behind him switched off. The curtain around him pulled. It made a massive difference to him. He asked me how long he had left. I said a few days, as I heard that from the palliative team. A room needs to be found for him at the hospital (currently very full) and hopefully then he can die in peace, without all the noise and busyness of the IC ward.
I spent some companionable hours with him with good, albeit sparse communication and some shared jokes, in spite of him not very much able to enunciate words. He is exhausted. I hope the next few days will be quiet and peaceful for him, with a minimum of fuss. I will go back to him this morning. Esther will come a bit later and Zoe tomorrow. He will probably die before the weekend.”
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Please bear Kamalashila, Yashobodhi and Kamalashila’s sisters Esther and Zoe in mind.
If you wish to read about Kamalashila’s journey with cancer, click here
