My wife's grandmother chose this last year, and went through with the procedure in December.
She was 97 and her quality of life was going downhill fast (mobility, eyesight), she was still completely sharp of mind and wanted to go out on her own terms.
In the week leading up the date she had lots of friends and family visiting, so much so that she was overwhelmed by it all really and just tired.
My wife and I talked to our two kids about if they wanted to be there for the procedure. Our 10yo wanted to, and the 13yo wanted to stay at school that day and hang out in the art room when it was happening, and have me text any updates.
I went with my wife and one daughter, and honestly my plan was to stay in the waiting room while the rest of the family and friends went to the procedure room with her.
Ultimately I ended up going to the room too. We had Reverend John Pentland from Hillhurst United there to "officiate" the day. An amazing person that can bring everyone together. He led all of us through group discussions bringing up all the things everyone was thankful to Golden (her name) for. Laughter, tears, hugs, a very emotional experience in the room.
Then the nurses came in (they had been amazing up to this point, getting drinks and anything else Golden and others needed in the waiting room) and asked Golden if she was ready. She said she was ready to go get prepped. They wheeled her out of the room and then the doctor performing the procedure came in and talked to us about how it would all go, and how this is still a very new thing to them as well and they are learning as they go too.
So we all went down to the procedure room, which was like your typical single bed hospital room. Nice big window with light streaming in. Golden was in the bed and had it propped up. The doctor had administered some medicine to relax her. Family gathered all around the bed any my 10yo lay next to her on one side. Reverend John led everyone around the bed again in one more round of saying thanks and goodbye. Then Golden simply stated she was "Ready to join the feast", and the doctor asked if she was ready. To which she replied "yes". The doctor administered the first dose of the drug that would put her into a coma, and then about 3 minutes later she would administer another shot of it. We were told at her age the coma alone would simply stop her breathing. At about 2 minutes since the first dose Golden asked the doctor for more! She definitely had her mind made up about this. The doctor laughed and said don't worry she would be administering the next dose shortly. Then about a minute later she simply closed her eyes and fell asleep in front of us. About 1 minute after that she passed.
It was surreal, it was sad, it was happy, it was joyful. It was what she wanted and after a life long lived she got to say goodbye to everyone and leave on her own terms.
Personally I'm glad I chose to go into the room with everyone, I had known her for 16 years and felt that I was exactly where I was supposed to be in those moments. My 10yo also looks back positively at being there that day too, she loves big and her presence there with Golden at the end was perfect (she was named after Golden's late husband).
So that's my story about MAID, probably a bit rambly but wanted to put it out here in this thread too. If anyone has questions about the whole thing I may be able to answer some, my wife worked with Golden a lot about getting this approval over the last year and a bit so I can always find out more from her if needed.
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