Returning to Earth-Week 4, Post B

I am caught slightly off guard by Donald's decision to die. I knew there was talk of suicide, but honestly I didn't believe it would ever become a reality. I was reading about Clare and K's relationship and then all of the sudden K is preparing to leave for a trip to Canada where Donald would like to die and be buried. I can't even imagine to turmoil the family must be experiencing. It is extremely brave of Donald's family to allow him this decision and let him go.I know I would have severe difficulty letting a family member die voluntarily. Cynthia, Donald's wife, is not joining him on this trip so I just realized that the last couple sentences I just read would be the last moments they would spend together. That realization gives me knots in my stomach. The concept of death seems so foreign as a teenager. I obviously know that people die and that no one lives forever, but the idea that someone could say "I would like to die now" and then pass on is unreal to me. Don't get me wrong, I understand that suicide is a very real thing, but I guess I never thought about it so deeply before I read this novel. I'm sure Donald understands what he's putting his family through, however, this disease truly eats away at your body. It is excrusiating to experience and is truly a horrible disease. Living his life must be becoming more and more impossible each day for Donald. As much as I hate to see him go, I can understand why he is making this important decision.