Contemplating Life – Episode 117 – “Record Breaking Difficult Decisions”

In this episode, I fast-forward through events after my dad died in February 2019 up until July 2025, after I made the decision to actively pursue placement in a skilled nursing facility. It includes a video of a speech I gave at my 70th birthday. This is part four of my continuing series recounting my efforts to maintain my benefits and live in a safe, comfortable environment. Links of Interest Episode 66 “I Was Nearly Murdered” https://contemplating-life.com/?p=331 Wellbrooke of Avon: https://trilogyhs.com/senior-living/in/indianapolis/wellbrooke-of-avon/ Father Paul Landwerlen obituary: https://www.archindy.org/criterion/local/2025/06-13/landwerlen.html Episode 12 in which I discuss my fear of death: https://contemplating-life.com/?p=69 Episode 14 in which I discuss how I got past my fears: https://contemplating-life.com/?p=76 Street view of mile marker 20.1 on I-465 where we had a flat tire: https://maps.app.goo.gl/KdU9GtU4UMkSnGaQ8 Hoosier Helpers from IDOT: https://www.in.gov/indot/current-programs/hoosier-helpers/ Wellbrooke of Avon: https://trilogyhs.com/senior-living/in/indianapolis/wellbrooke-of-avon/ Greenwood Healthcare Center: https://communicarehealth.com/location/greenwood-healthcare-center/ Private Room at Wellbrooke: https://share.icloud.com/photos/010P48zzQC-vwzoSBLcuL-Ouw Video from my 60th birthday party: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhJT0-3KFcM Video from my 70th birthday party: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2EIBq4vxr8 Episode 78 about my friend Buz: https://contemplating-life.com/?p=424 Episode 45 about my friend Mike Gregory: https://contemplating-life.com/?p=256 World record donation for SMA treatment: https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/663805-largest-donation-for-a-patients-medical-treatment Most expensive drugs: https://www.drugs.com/article/top-10-most-expensive-drugs.html Evrysdi (Risdiplam) the SMA drug I take. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risdiplam Zolgensma and Itvisma gene therapies for people with SMA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onasemnogene_abeparvovec For more episodes: https://contemplating-life.com/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/contemplatinglife Where to listen to this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/contemplatinglife YouTube playlist of this and all other episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFFRYfZfNjHL8bFCmGDOBvEiRbzUiiHpq