Cynthia Clark

The Many Faces of MAID is a compilation of stories from seventeen people who have direct experience of their loved one choosing a medically assisted death. These stories facilitate real, emotional connections to the raw and uncensored experiences of the storytellers, and encompass a wide range of emotions, from easy to difficult and from expected to unexpected. The perspectives the storytellers offer are not complete accounts of their experiences. Rather, they are small glimpses into some of the intimate moments and emotions they've felt moved to share with others. This book provides readers with opportunities to find comfort, companionship, and validation of their own emotions. It's also a chance for them to explore the many feelings they are likely to experience before, during, and after their loved one's MAID. They may experience many of the emotions expressed in these pages, or they may experience different emotions. Every journey is unique, and every journey is valid. Readers are encouraged to jump into this book at any point of the MAID journey and to know that they are not alone. The stories and emotions in this book ring very true and authentic, offering something for everyone. It is a very helpful resource that I will absolutely be recommending to the patients and families I work with. Stefanie Green, MD, Founding President of the Canadian Association of MAID Assessors and Providers (CAMAP) and author of the bestselling memoir This Is Assisted Dying. This book will be an immense comfort to anyone grappling with the emotional roller coaster of helping a loved one access Medical Assistance in Dying. Kerrie Hale, Co-Chair, Calgary Chapter, Dying With Dignity Canada This accessible and reader-friendly book provides an intimate look into the experiences of people who have supported loved ones through MAID in Canada. It's never too early to read this important book and get the conversations started. You will be glad you did. Kathy Kortes-Miller, MSW, PhD, Author of Talking About Death Won't Kill You and Co-host of the podcast Disrupting Death

This book takes the central issues facing board members today and applies the giving voice to values framework while also providing insights from practicing board members who have faced these issues. It covers such topics as strategic planning and monitoring, director independence, privacy and cyber risk, executive compensation and CEO succession planning. With this book, readers will also grapple with the conflicts of interest that might arise in the director selection process, role of the nominating committee and the compensation committee in order to cultivate more optimal board dynamics. The principles of giving voice to values start by asking a deceptively simple question: ‘What if you were going to act on your values—what would you say and do?’ The book then provides an overview of the current landscape of corporate governance along with the major rules and director duties applicable to the board of directors. The book’s latter chapters contain a series of five scenarios common to the board of directors that are presented as a set of “Board Challenges” involving the tensions often found in board work. In Giving Voice to Values in the Boardroom, the author, Cynthia E. Clark, provides practical strategies for board members and other constituents of corporate governance to deal with these challenges. These cases are designed to help users of the book implement prescripting and action planning. Each case will also have discussion questions about the stakes and stakeholders, common reasons and rationalizations and examples of how firms and governance professionals have handled similar board challenges.

This book takes the central issues facing board members today and applies the giving voice to values framework while also providing insights from practicing board members who have faced these issues. It covers such topics as strategic planning and monitoring, director independence, privacy and cyber risk, executive compensation and CEO succession planning. With this book, readers will also grapple with the conflicts of interest that might arise in the director selection process, role of the nominating committee and the compensation committee in order to cultivate more optimal board dynamics. The principles of giving voice to values start by asking a deceptively simple question: ‘What if you were going to act on your values—what would you say and do?’ The book then provides an overview of the current landscape of corporate governance along with the major rules and director duties applicable to the board of directors. The book’s latter chapters contain a series of five scenarios common to the board of directors that are presented as a set of “Board Challenges” involving the tensions often found in board work. In Giving Voice to Values in the Boardroom, the author, Cynthia E. Clark, provides practical strategies for board members and other constituents of corporate governance to deal with these challenges. These cases are designed to help users of the book implement prescripting and action planning. Each case will also have discussion questions about the stakes and stakeholders, common reasons and rationalizations and examples of how firms and governance professionals have handled similar board challenges.

This is the story of Phoebe Emma Horton and her descendants. Born on Christmas day into an upper middle class family in Victorian England, Phoebe was an only child. Highly educated and well-mannered she was raised by her mother and stepfather, MaryAnn and Henry Jakeman. John Caswell was a handsome young man from a well-placed Catholic family who were contractors and builders. He too lived in the West Midlands. John was overseeing a building project in the village of Coseley when he met Phoebe. John and Phoebe Caswell were the author's grandparents. While she never had the privilege of knowing them, their legacy left many unanswered questions. This is a story about ordinary people leading extraordinary lives and it begins with Benjamin Jones, from whom the wealth flowed.

A book materialized in the center of the floor the pages alive and a savage wind reached out pulling Cassie into the story. And then she was herself again fighting against the strange current that tried to envelop her. She screamed, "Ma help me, ma please help me." "Maaa, Maaaa," Cassie was terrified. She didn't want to go in there? She had seen too much, no it was a scary place. Cassandra tried to grab hold of her hand, tried to pull her out of the vortex but it was too strong. Caleb reached for her, "Hang on Cassie, hang on to me don't let go." And Martha was screaming, "Let her go, let her go to them." But Caleb held on trying to fight against the current, but he could not hold her. They watched horrified as the book pulled Cassie in between the pages and thousands of demons rushed to her side. "She is ours, she is ours, she is ours, come to us oh queen," they all chanted.

I thirst. The heat sapped the strength from my body. In the darkness sweat trickled from my pores rolling over my skin. It would have been expected in the light, but the darkness? Even the nerves and muscles inside of me smoldered. How could that possibly be? I shivered. Not from the cold for there was no cold. The heat was such that I shivered on the inside. Tingling nerves I would think. There was no one but me. I walked. No. Not walked. Stumbled would be the more appropriate term to use. My feet had not really been cooperating. I kept telling them left, then right, but they followed their own path. I could feel the cuts and scrapes on my feet. I had no desire to look at the blood. It was a wasteland out here. Nothing but smoldering ash and dust beneath my bare feet. I could feel the blisters. I would cry, but I had no moisture left for tears. No release, no relief. All I could do was continue on and hope that soon I would find water and shelter. I thought what if. What if I had stayed where I was? The dead cave was cool and maybe there would have been a source of water if I had explored further. It was too late for that now. Fear does crazy things to people. Oh yes. I had been afraid. Terrified. No. I was better off getting away from there for the Death Owner would return.

Earth's Destruction In my time, I have seen the way things would look, Spreading the pages between a fairy tale book. Once upon a time, a clich long time before, A heart-wrenching cry as I stand before the cold, cold door. My bones shake. Raging winds across the ice, terror 'neath my skin. "I can't," I cried, "Oh God, please bring this to an end." A voiced that thundered; echoing the icy landscape from above, "My child, my precious child, the world must have love." "Will not be so easy, for I spared not many and a second chance I will give, Choose the right path my daughter, choose so others may live. Inside that door may well be the knowledge that you are after, Honor, peace, lots of love and a joyous, carefree laughter." Anything must be better than this vast wasteland, barren and cold, Perhaps warmth lay inside, perhaps maybe a child to hold. Sometimes the isolation bordered on madness and despair, Civilization destroyed just two years destruction everywhere. And the fierceness of my heartbeat thundered within, Quivering hands around the doorknob, the beginning or end? Indecision held fast, I could not release its strong hold, Struggling mightily to once again gain control. The ice began to crack I could feel frozen water began to rise, "Someone help, please help me," but the winds drowned my cries. "Oh my child, where has your faith in me gone?" "Always I'm near, you've never been alone." A calm peace settled, I knew the task that lie ahead, My mind filled with sunshine, my soul no longer dead. The knob turned in my hand and much to my surprise, A world within a world, rivers of gold and bright sunny skies. Men, women, and children, that survived gathered there, All had amazing stories they wanted to share. But all had one thing in common that helped them survive, Their faith in God had kept them alive. (c) Cynthia Clark

He had been watching, waiting, feeling. Yes, feeling. But how could this be so? He had no soul. Oh, he had the souls of old that he carried with him, but he had grown numb to their cries. At least he tries to tell himself that. He never pitied them, never wondered how they came to be his, for his soul had been long gone. For eternity, he must wander aimlessly; no life, no thoughts, no direction. Such is the price of selling your soul. In the long run, all he achieved was desolation, isolation, and emptiness. They say with no soul you feel nothing, yet the evil one did leave him rage and madness. He wished him to suffer, oh and suffer he did. It does no good for no one is aware of his agony. No one cares. They fear him, for he can add their soul to his ever-growing collection, but they do not care for his ills. They bring him sacrifices, lost souls, drinkers, the ones that kill, the ones that steal, till they found no more. Then the innocent they would bring, drug them, tie them up, till he found them. Why would he wish the innocent? Did they not know he could not keep them? He did not wish to keep them? Yet they continued their sacrifices to save themselves, never knowing their days were numbered and they would still be his. He cared nothing for the innocent souls.

They say your life flashes before your eyes, as death takes you, and I watched. I remembered so much of the story. Silent laughter as I remembered my first drink when I awoke at the cleansing. It had taken so long to get it, so long to find, but the hot 2 liter Pepsi hit the spot. Oh, those ugly creatures eating that raw meat and a chance meeting to the man I fell so much in love with. Icarn, Tandy, and their mama. The settling, the joining, so many things, but everything came back to Hero. Hero's eyes, his laughter, his sorrow when he realized what he had done. I had forgiven him that. That had not been him, that had been Bones, and he was the reason I was here now. Why? What had I ever done to that demon that he would wish hell on me? I know demons try to gain souls, but why mine? All this. Everything. The islands and people he destroyed, He tried to destroy Hero, He had already tried to get me into hell one time before, and now he had me. Now I was here and I had no way, nor means of escape. Then it came to me. He cared not for Hero, nor any of the others. He had not tried to take their souls. He only wished to use the people that I loved and loved me for his evil purpose. He wanted me and me only. My laughter took me on the brink of insanity for I had finally figured out who Bones was. Torn between laughter and tears, I had lost everything and he knew this. But why? Why was he still punishing from beyond the grave? It seemed he had held my soul through my life, and now he wished it in death.

Upon the raging sea, we sailed, unable to find even an island to land. The wind twisted and turned, swirling quickly, dragging the boat to and fro, while the fierceness of the ocean's waves, banged against the boat threatening to pull it underneath the ocean. Captain Tyler begged us to get below lest we be swept overboard, but I could not. I would rather face a storm in all its fury than to be stuck in a room below wondering if we would make it. Hero had also refused and here we stood in a torrential downpour willing the savage seas to calm. Several turns of the moon we sailed in smooth waters, but the sun did not turn this morning. The darkness of the storm approached and the sun never shone. I did not fear. God had sent us on this journey for a reason and I am sure it was not to die. As I had many times before I was sent to rescue survivors. I was not sure where we were going but I knew God would guide us. What once had been Cuba no longer existed. Many of the islands that had once been where no more, so we continued to sail through the storm. We were getting close to our destination; I could feel it. I also noticed the storm was lessening in intensity. The rain had stopped, the winds had eased, and the waters calmed. All our thanks went to God as the huge sailboat leveled out. The sun had appeared and its rays added a brightness to the rainbow that appeared there