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For many viewers, watching the landmark series On Our Own Terms: Moyers on Dying will provoke a wide variety of emotions. The series asks us to begin the difficult task of contemplating our own mortality. In response, KQED presents four half-hour companion shows: honest discussions about caregiving, grief, difficult decisions and what may lie beyond death. Hosted by veteran journalist, Ray Suarez, these programs invite viewers to look at the end of life With Eyes Open, and by doing so make their lives more meaningful. With Eyes Open is part of the Bay Window series, produced by KQED in San Francisco. Peter Calabrese is vice president of television production for KQED. Executive producer for With Eyes Open is Sue Ellen McCann. Wendy Hanamura and Lisa Aliferis are producers for With Eyes Open.
"Grief and Healing" (Episode One)
Videotapes of With Eyes Open are available for purchase by contacting: Teachers Note: Off-Air Taping Rights: 10 days |
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The
first episode, "Grief and Healing", is a conversation about
loss, grief and healing facilitated by the founder of the San Francisco
Zen Hospice Project, Frank Ostaseski. The program asks viewers what
they fear about death, how they imagine their last moments, how they
will say good-bye and how illness can be a transformative experience.
Individuals like Paul, who is battling Hepatitus C, and Cathy, who lost
her husband suddenly two years ago, discuss their experiences with grief
and death, and coping with the fear of physical pain, loss of control,
dependency, social isolation and anger. The episode ends with a ritual
as the individuals convey a written message to those that they love,
throwing their final words into a fire and watching as the embers rise.
The
second episode, "Difficult Decisions", looks at the importance
of talking about what we want at the end of life with our loved ones.
What would happen if you had a major stroke, were confined to an intensive
care unit and could not speak for yourself? Would your family know your
wishes? Host Ray Suarez sparks a discussion with members of two families
who have been confronted by this scenario, the Suens and the Bermanns.
Both families were recently faced with making life decisions for their
loved ones—the Bermanns had the discussion, the Suens did not.
Suarez and the families are joined by doctors and educators—Dr.
Steven Pantilat of the University of California at San Francisco, Kathy
Glasmire of Sacramento Health Decisions and Dr. LaVera Crawley of the
Stanford University Bioethics Department—who help translate the
Suens’ and the Bermanns’ experiences into universal situations
we can all discuss with our loved ones. 
The
third episode, "Caregiving", looks at the challenges and rewards
of caregiving. Every day, some 25 million Americans provide care for
someone they love who is sick or frail, ranging from taking care of
an aging mother to helping a dying spouse get dressed, bathe and eat.
These caregivers are not paid and don’t know where to turn for
advice or assistance. Suarez speaks with a group of real-life experts—people
who have personal experiences with caring for a sick or dying loved
one. Suarez is also joined by Beth Witrogen McLeod, author of the Pulitzer
Prize-nominated book Caregiving: The Spiritual Journey of Love, Loss,
and Renewal and Celi Adams, founder of Home Care Companions, an
agency which provides a free training program for families and friends
struggling to provide the best home care possible. 
The
final episode, "Beyond Life, Beyond Death", asks where do
we go when we die and is there a connection to our earthly lives? According
to a Time Magazine poll, 81 percent of Americans believe in Heaven,
when it is defined as the place "where people live forever with
God after they die"; 94 percent believe in God or some higher power;
and 79 percent believe in a Judgement Day. Host Ray Suarez interviews
Tibetan Buddhist scholar Robert Thurman, as well as teacher and author
Rabbi David Wolpe. Their conversations span a range of concepts involving
our own mortality, from Buddhism’s ideas of judgement and reincarnation;
the old Jewish tale of two twins in the womb; and Christian imagery
and beliefs. Both guests encourage viewers to ponder an afterlife where
the mystery of death and the mystery of a "higher power" intersect.
