Fatal Tragedy

Published on March 19, 2006 By BlueDev In Misc

Just over a week ago, tragedy struck.

One of the students at my medical school tragically took her own life. I didn't know her personally, though I did recognize her. She always had a smile on her face and seemed to be a wonderful, positive person. It is a sad demonstration that no one is immune when it comes to depression.

My heart goes out to her family, her friends, and most of all to her.

When I was younger, and much more naive, I didn't understand how someone could choose to end his/her life. That edge just seemed so impossibly far away to me, the journey to get there was infinite. Then something happened, and suddenly I found that edge in sight.

Granted, it was still a ways off, but suddenly it was in sight. I was fortunate. I had a wife and two (at the time) children who needed me. They were my anchor, they kept me from getting too close to that edge. I was fortunate to have an anchor that solid.

I desperately wish my classmate had. May she rest in peace, and her family find some comfort and peace.

Comments

Dr Guy

on Mar 20, 2006

I know the part about seeing the edge. But I have never peered over the edge either. I am sorry for your classmates' family. Her troubles are over, and theirs go on.

ParaTed2k

on Mar 20, 2006

I too am glad that you merely caught site of the edge of understanding how someone could take their own life. It was your wife and kids that you see as the reason you wouldn't cross that line. The thing is, if you truly caught sight of suicide as an option, your wife and kids would become the reason you would go through with it. All to often, the person who commits suicide has come to the conclusion that it is the only logical. Not only the only do they see it as the only logical conclusion left, but they often seem happy because they have found an answer to the problems they have caused for themselves and those who love them. In other words, the very love that would keep you or I from taking that .45 Calliber Airway, is what motivates the truly suicidal to go through with it.

This may sound a bit condescending, but I don't mean it that way.... I'm glad you only think you can understand.

I too pray for peace of mind for her and her family.. and for you and your classmates.

BlueDev

on Mar 20, 2006

This may sound a bit condescending, but I don't mean it that way.... I'm glad you only think you can understand.

No, not condescending at all. I think you are right. When you really are ready to seriously contemplate suicide, it does become the solution. It probably seems like the right thing to do to take care of it all. I suppose what surprised me was I got to a point where I could see how suicide could be considered an option, though I was fortunate to never seriously consider it. Just see how someone could.

crimson

on Mar 20, 2006

I'm sorry to hear this. I think that the majority of people think about it at one time or another, but to seriously plan it, few do. Although, I think that it happens under different names.

For the morbidly obese who die of a heart attack or stroke, for the drinker that dies of liver failure, or for the 3 packs a day smokers who die of emphaseyma (sp.) I think that this is a form of suicide as well.

Any way you look at it though, she must have thought it was the best thing to do, and while I feel sorry for her friends and family, I do hope that she found some sort of peace if its at all possible.

foreverserenity

on Mar 20, 2006

I'm sorry to hear such a tragedy. I wish there was that anchor for her too, unfortunately she didn't see it if it was there. That edge I've seen time and time again, not enough to want to end my life, but it's an edge that most people teeter towards sometimes. It's unfortunate when they don't have someone to hang on to. I hope her soul will find some peace.

Gideon MacLeish

on Mar 20, 2006

I know the part about seeing the edge. But I have never peered over the edge either.

I have to say, I've WALKED the edge...and people around me never would have guessed it.

Trudygolightly

on Mar 20, 2006

I was on that edge back in 68, if not for a little girl outside of my room asking me what was wrong, ( she went and got her mother) I'd not be here. In the midst of deep despair it seems the logical way out.

I'm sorry you lost a fellow classmate, and feel bad for the family and friends of hers. We'll never know what contributions she could have made to the world..

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