Digital Stories Project
Understanding the experiences of those who accompanied someone throughout their dying process using medical assistance in dying.
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Digital Stories: Part 2
Bridge C-14 Participants
In part two of this three-part episode, we sit down with Dr. Mike Lang, the lead facilitator of the two digital storytelling workshops. We also hear from six participants who created digital stories about their experiences accompanying someone on their MAiD journey. These participants were recruited by Bridge C-14, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting families and loved ones through every stage of assisted death. You can learn more about the digital story creators showcased in this episode and watch their stories on our website: or on our YouTube channel: . Dr. Mike Lang is a health researcher, award-winning filmmaker, Digital Storytelling facilitator, and adjunct assistant professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary, Canada. He has directed and produced three feature-length documentaries, two short documentaries, and three web series about the human health experience in addition to numerous health education curricula. Mike has also published 21 academic articles and facilitated the creation of over 900 digital stories (short films) with a diverse cross-section of patients, family caregivers, and healthcare professionals around the world. His professional and research focus is on using digital storytelling and documentary filmmaking in education, advocacy, research, and a therapeutic capacity within healthcare and wellness contexts. Connect with him on all socials @mikelangstories or via www.mikelangstories.com or commonlanguagedst.org. Music for Disrupting Death was created by the ever-lovely Sarah McInnis. Sarah is a music therapist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and End-of-Life Doula. In 2021, Sarah began The Legacy Song Project, writing original songs for folks at the end of life, and for folks who have lost loved ones. To learn more about Sarah, visit her website: . This episode of Disrupting Death was produced by Sadie Mallon.
D. Lynn Chapman
As Good As Death Can Be
I have lived in Roberts Creek BC since 1975 and together with my husband, John, raised our two beloved daughters. It’s two years since John had his MAiD provision and I miss him every day. Grief has weathered me, but I am okay and so grateful John could choose his own time to die.
Amy is a product manager and designer, real estate consultant, and PropTech enthusiast. She is also a grief support facilitator and events specialist. Amy lives in Vancouver, B.C.
Amy Tsai
A Brave Goodbye
Roberta "Bobbie" Putnam
Something We Could Share
My name is Bobbie/Roberta and I live in Tsawwassen B.C. (where the ferry goes to Victoria). I was married for 51 years to my patient, humorous, and kind husband Bob. We spent our marriage playing tennis in Canada and overseas, biking holidays, and spoiling our little dogs along the way. He was a teacher to the end, and I am wanting to share our story.
Jo-Anne supported Jan, one of her best friends, through the MAID journey in 2018, which proved to be life changing for her. As a result of that experience, she gained a deeper understanding of the gaps in the health care system. Realising how important education and health advocates are, Jo-Anne became a Death Doula and Death Educator at the request of, and in honour of, Jan’s memory.
Jo-Anne Haun
A Perfect Ending
Tania Stilson
Overtime
Tania Stilson has been sharing her perspective of her Dad's rare Track 2 MAID journey since his passing in early 2023. The federal law, amended in 2021, gave people who suffer intolerably but whose death was not reasonably foreseeable access to apply for MAID and additional safeguards are currently required, including a 90-day assessment period. Tania hopes to expand the knowledge and support for suffering Canadians, empowering them, like her Dad did, to choose care options that best align with their lifetime values.
My experience caring for my husband during his long illness and helping him access MAiD has had a profound impact on my life. I’m grateful to live in a country that acknowledges the right to medically-assisted dying. I see myself working in death and dying in my next act.
Kimberly Robinson