“To me, Death with Dignity is more than a policy or a law. It’s about love. It’s about saying, ‘Thank you, I love you,’ in the most profound and powerful way possible. It’s about showing up for the people we love, not just in life, but during and after their death.” Advocate Jake Shannon has been an activist for the majority of his life—a fire he attributes to his mother, Lynda Bluestein, who sued Vermont to access the state’s Death with Dignity law, and was able to die on her terms in 2024. As the third feature in our Mother’s Day series, Jake shares with us why he continues to advocate for Death with Dignity, and his mission to support others to navigate their grief with his non-profit, Lynda’s Phones https://ow.ly/R9Yo50VPB0c Thank you, Jake, for sharing your story and creating spaces where we can talk about the reality of death. Read Jake’s story here: https://ow.ly/TPUI50VPB0e (fb)

“Hundreds of hours (and dollars) of therapy later, I know this: watching someone you love suffer changes you. It rewires your brain. It shows up uninvited—during meetings, on vacations, in moments that are supposed to feel joyful […] I’ll keep honoring my mom the best way I know how: by pushing for the change she deserved, but didn’t live to see.” Advocate Xand Griffin shared their first story with us in 2021, and now, 8 years after their mother’s death and still processing the loss, they have a new story to share. Their reflections are complex—equally full of love and guilt—natural parts of the grieving process, which many of us can relate to. Through it all, Xand’s hope and intention is that their story will help someone else. Mother’s Day carries different feelings and emotions for many of us. Just like love, this holiday can feel complicated, and we understand and support our communities who are navigating the grief that often comes from this day. Thank you, Xand, for your advocacy and vulnerability. Know that the Death with Dignity community supports your grieving process just as much as you supported your mother. Read Xand’s story here: https://ow.ly/6acO50VPBPS (fb)