Jill Bodak on Caregiving and Medically Assisted Death

Seeing Death Clearly

Jill Bodak, an osteopath in Toronto, Ontario, shares the deeply personal story of her father’s stroke in 2020, which flipped her world upside down. His stroke happened unexpectedly while skiing on the other side of the country, and what followed was an intense two-year journey of caregiving. Initially told that he wouldn’t survive, her father defied the odds but was left in a severely compromised state, requiring Jill to become his primary caregiver.

Over time, her father expressed that he no longer wanted to live, which led them to explore medically assisted death, a legal option in Canada. Jill’s writing throughout this period focused on family, grief, and caregiving. Her book, Loved Into Being: Reflections on Stroke and Being Indestructible, emerged as both a tribute and a conversation starter on end-of-life rights.

She speaks about the emotional complexity of caregiving and the challenging role reversal, explaining that her father's vulnerability during his recovery was a beautiful yet heartbreaking contrast to the physically active person he once was. Despite the overwhelming daily demands, they found moments of humor and connection—laughing together even when words failed.

Jill reflects on how this experience has deeply impacted her approach to wellness and the preciousness of life. She emphasizes the importance of understanding mortality and how it reshaped her perspective on treating the body and the mind. The journey through her father’s illness and eventual medically assisted death was both transformative and filled with moments of profound connection.

Her story offers a touching and honest look at caregiving, family dynamics, and the complex emotional landscape of end-of-life decisions.

Get her book here. https://www.amazon.com/Loved-Into-Being-Reflections-Indestructible/dp/B0BPGPKZJW

On Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/jill.bodak/

Website. https://www.jillbodak.com/

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