The certainty of the end

This week's bonus episode is in memory of Paola Marra, who made a moving and thought provoking film with world famous photographer Rankin, about her decision to go to Dignitas in Switzerland to die. Katie was privileged enough to speak to Rankin, about why he made the film for the Dignity in Dying Campaign, which was launched in March 2024 to coincide with Paola’s death. 

He talked about his bond with Paola and how struck he was by her decision to end her life having lived with cancer for seven years.

Rankin himself has done a lot of work around Death and Dying, including his exhibition Alive in the Face of Death in 2013, and more recently he published the book: How to Die Well in 2021.

Katie also speaks to her friend Cordelia Taylor, who has been living with a brain tumour for five and a half years, and was recently told by her medical team that they are out of options and that she has 2-3 months to live. In response to this Cordelia hosted a Celebration of Life party, which Katie attended. They discuss this as an idea, and they talk about all the feelings Cordelia has surrounding death & dying. 

Lastly, Katie shares her own news, about the next chapter she is about to embark on in her cancer treatment, having had some progression on a recent scan.

https://www.dignityindying.org.uk/about-us/

https://www.actaboveandbeyond.co.uk/