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Bearing Witness : Robert Coley-Donohue

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Robert Coley-Donohue has ALS, a fatal degenerative neuro-muscular disease that strikes two in 100,000 people. ALS--also known as Lou Gehrig's disease--struck the Coley-Donohue family twice, taking the lives of both Robert and his wife, Barbara. Bearing Witness: Robert Coley-Donohue follows Robert over the last three years of his life. A retired machinist, he is determined to make the most of his time. With his faithful dog Brandy usually at his side, he lives independently for as long as possible, going out for coffee with his best friend, taking care of his garden and walking on the beach. As Robert's physical abilities decline, tasks become harder. He is fitted with a feeding tube. Doing up a simple zipper becomes a challenge and, eventually, an impossibility. Robert's words become fewer, more carefully chosen and more difficult to understand. In his typically understated way, he says, "This slow deterioration is not fun. Not fun at all." With the help of homecare workers, Victoria Hospice and his three devoted children, Robert remains at home. But the ideal of staying and dying at home soon runs up against some harsh realities. Robert's 24-hour care is expensive, and organizing it becomes almost a full-time job for his children. Eventually, Robert decides to move to a hospital, where he spends the last nine months of his life. Robert's experience is arduous, but also filled with hope and healing. If, like Robert, we can face death with grace and the comfort of family and friends, then death will hold less fear.

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Title

Bearing Witness : Robert Coley-Donohue

Call No

NFB

Digital Link

View this resource online

100306

Authors

Curtis, Dan
Lapointe, Pierre
Symansky, Adam
Bochner, Sally
National Film Board of Canada (Montreal)

Subjects

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis--Patients--Biography.
Terminally ill.
British ColumbiaDyingFamiliesHome careLou Gehrig's diseasePalliative carePersonal experiencesTerminally ill men

Language

English

Published

Montreal : National Film Board of Canada, 2012.

Publication Desc

1 streaming video (90 min., 48 sec.) : sound + 1 study guide.

Series

5
0

Summary MARC Cover Image Additional Info

General Note

Agency - English program:.Quebec Centre.
Study guide available.

Credit Note

Director, Dan Curtis ; writer, Jim Osborne ; camera, Dan Curtis ; sound, Dan Curtis ; picture editing, Dan Curtis ; music composer, Tobin Stokes ; producer, Pierre Lapointe, Adam Symansky ; executive producer, Sally Bochner ; sound editor, Don Ayer ; re-recording, Jean Paul Vialard.

Time of Event Note

Recorded 2003.

Summary

Robert Coley-Donohue has ALS, a fatal degenerative neuro-muscular disease that strikes two in 100,000 people. ALS--also known as Lou Gehrig's disease--struck the Coley-Donohue family twice, taking the lives of both Robert and his wife, Barbara. Bearing Witness: Robert Coley-Donohue follows Robert over the last three years of his life. A retired machinist, he is determined to make the most of his time. With his faithful dog Brandy usually at his side, he lives independently for as long as possible, going out for coffee with his best friend, taking care of his garden and walking on the beach. As Robert's physical abilities decline, tasks become harder. He is fitted with a feeding tube. Doing up a simple zipper becomes a challenge and, eventually, an impossibility. Robert's words become fewer, more carefully chosen and more difficult to understand. In his typically understated way, he says, "This slow deterioration is not fun. Not fun at all." With the help of homecare workers, Victoria Hospice and his three devoted children, Robert remains at home. But the ideal of staying and dying at home soon runs up against some harsh realities. Robert's 24-hour care is expensive, and organizing it becomes almost a full-time job for his children. Eventually, Robert decides to move to a hospital, where he spends the last nine months of his life. Robert's experience is arduous, but also filled with hope and healing. If, like Robert, we can face death with grace and the comfort of family and friends, then death will hold less fear.

System Det Note

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Source of Description Note (R)

Description based on online resource; title from title screen (National Film Board of Canada, viewed 2023-08-10).