Harvey Max Chochinov is a distinguished professor of psychiatry specializing in palliative care at the University of Manitoba, and a senior scientist at the CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute. He is an inductee of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. The following excerpt has been adapted from his book, In Search of Dignity: A Lifetime of Reflections.

Harvey Max Chochinov's sister EllenCourtesy of family

Several years before her death at the age of 55, owing to complications from cerebral palsy, my sister Ellen was again in hospital, this time in intensive care and on the brink of respiratory collapse. To say cerebral palsy had shaped her life is an understatement. It moulded nearly every facet of her being, from the contours of her body to the way she saw and experienced the world.

While one might assume that her life was defined by suffering, the only ones who suffered were those on the dance floor whose toes were crushed under the mighty weight of her electric wheelchair.

With the passage of time, her body became increasingly contorted, affecting her ability to take a deep breath or fight off upper respiratory tract infections. So long as I can remember, blowing out birthday candles was impossible without the assistance of her nieces, nephews, friends or extended family. Time at the family cottage in Winnipeg Beach, ice cream on a summer’s day, chocolate milk, or meals prepared by my parents were among her greatest pleasures.

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But health challenges often interfered with her various plans and wishful thinking that one day she might actually get........

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