Skip to content

In My View with Harry Maksagak: Excruciating waits retraumatize families

The passing of a loved one is one of the most painful and excruciating experiences we have to go through. The most painful part is, the twin remaining has to cope with life all over again not to mention the rest of the siblings and other family members.
28954542_web1_211122-NUN-in-my-view-Maksagak-Standard_1

The passing of a loved one is one of the most painful and excruciating experiences we have to go through. The most painful part is, the twin remaining has to cope with life all over again not to mention the rest of the siblings and other family members.

I’ve watched many times when the mother breaks down and weeps for the loss. There are no words to express the pain and the bewilderment of an untimely death. I cannot help but re-write this caption I’ve used many times in presentations and in my writings; what you live with you learn, what you learn you do, what you do you practice, what you practice has consequences.

The life-style of every individual and the observations and experiences of every individual resonates through-out the life and in many cases goes unresolved bringing pain and separation within the circle of affected families. There is something special within us all in being able to cope with circumstances and we must never forget that there is a higher power that we can tap into in time of despair.

The family unit is a circle of people with varying specialties and strength that we can draw from and know that we can take the next step forward together. Another illustration I enjoy referring to is the muskoxen; when they sense a threat approaching them, the bigger stronger members form the impenetrable circle with the young ones and females inside the circle until the danger is gone. We family members must be vigilant and aware of unusual circumstances and adjust accordingly.

In closing, when the physicians and first responders have done all they can do and the last breath is taken, the lead physician documents the time of passing and records this for the issuance of a certificate with date, time, location and cause of death. This then is forwarded to a registrar or central office to file in the logistical archive and to issue the death certificate. We had to wait 7 months for this piece of paper to close the estate of the deceased. It seems just as we were coming to the place of acceptance, we received this document and the wells of tears returned and we had to adjust with looking to closure.

Whichever department is assigned this task has to be sensitive and co-operative with the families in mourning and act as quickly as possible so as to not prolong an already painful situation.