Dear Radio Lab journalists
I was surprised by your conclusion on the segment about the aging Japanese population. The journalists both asked the question what is the solution, and neither of them were willing to say the obvious truth, which is to declare to the next generation, “You need to have more children so you will have someone to care for you in your old age! Most journalists write to report the truth and influence people. You combed over the answer, yet were not willing to state it. Why?

Wow.....this was an amazing show. I have just gone through the death of my mother aged 94. I am sorry to say I could not be with her, and she died in a care center. Our culture really needs to know how to go through this process with loved ones. I think we don't know how to go through it and leave it to care centers and hospitals to perform the last weeks and months of care for our loved ones. This is a major reason why we are spending 50% of health care dollars spent in a year in the last year of people's lives, in the Amercian battle to stave off death and not have to deal with the dying persons care ourselves.
We need more programs like this to help teach us the value of going through the dying process with loved ones and how to care for them.

Just recently started listening to Radiolab. I have been with patients in the throes of death, present when they died, too. This was a special essay. Humans continue to perceive sound and the presence of others long after they appear to do so. Compassionate care giving is so important. This family is to be commended. Hopefully their contribution to the understanding of death will inspire others to be involved. Future challenges to care include economic constraints especially for those who have small families or no children.

OK, I'm on my way to see my Aunt who is dying. After hearing how important it is to surround those who are dying with the light of the living, I know that was meant for me. My Aunt is in late stages of lung cancer and does not have much time left. She is the last of my elders, the only one left who can tell me about my mothers life and hers. Here is an example of how your stories change peoples lives.

I had to listen to a radiolab for my AP Biology class and am blown away by it! I thought it was going to be boring but it was so interesting and fresh! I am definetly going to listen to it more now!

Did no one make the connection that these fetal corpses are meant to grow for 9 months in the womb and then undergo a change--no connection between 50 divisions in 9 months and 9 months of pregnancy?

I think anyone who has seen someone they love die, slowly, a little each day, can relate to this story. I found this piece to be very evocative, and incredibly moving. It brought back so many memories of taking care of my dying grandmother. I believe the best thing one can do is simply be there. Care enough to witness your loved one's passing.

Congratulations to those responsible for the "Grandpa" segment on your work winning a Gold Medal at the New York Festivals' Radio Broadcasting Awards on June 19, 2008. Having been so greatly moved by your work myself, I hear why it received this highly prized acknowledgement.

Thank you Jeremiah and I for sharing such an intimate portrait of your family. I spent the last week with my mother dying, and it brought back that incredible time.

This piece has really made me think a lot about morbidity and dying (not death). It is the helpless and painful end that seems so frightening about getting old. Death feels welcome compared to that.

Have our last days always been like this or have we begun to have more prolonged endings since we've been living longer in more recent years? This also smacks into more social problems and societal values/laws. Can someone choose not to spend one's final days unable to move around, with bedsores and fecal scalding, and someone else cleaning your body, feeding you, etc. (ie., should someone be allowed to choose to end life earlier?) It seems that no one else would be able to care for you as well as you can care for yourself. Nursing homes I've seen are sad, miserable, awful places...and family caring for the sick elderly can be stressed and overworked. But our elderly are living history and a way for us to touch our past, if only we talk to them. They are people, our ancestors and it is not right to "throw them away"...yet, do they want to live still? Perhaps some do and some don't and others are unable to communicate their desires.

Is there a purpose for aging and a decrepit body?

I wonder if I'd feel comforted if I was on my deathbed and my children and grandchildren were taking photos of me as part of a contest. I'm not sure if that would feel very loving and caring and respectful to me.

I heard the story this evening on 91.7 in Detroit. Wow, I was just blown away. The father was wise to encourage his son to spend time with his grandfather. I'm sure the son is grateful for the experience.

Leo, he wasn't dead but dying. They were respectful and the act of photography, you'll learn if you listen to the program, brought the family closer and allowed the grandfather to remain surrounded by life until his final moments with us.

Refreshingly realistic, having dealt with the death of both of my parents at home I think everyone should see death for what it is.

The respect was reflected in the story. You can not 'appreciate' their story without both their words and the photos.

Maybe you've never heard the expression: "Show some respect for the dead."

Leslie,

You shouldn't need anything special to view the slideshow, but you do need to have javascript enabled in yor web browser. nnd you'll also want to allow pop-ups from http://www.wnyc.org .

-Radio Lab

Umm you don't have to post this, but, I can't get the slideshow to work? Do I need a certain program or to subscribe?

Did anyone else find this piece absolutely devastating? right between the eyes