Dying to Know Day 2025

Nobody Knows  - Dying to Know Day 2025

Picture this: you’re standing around your wife’s ICU bed. She’s unconscious and hooked up to all the proverbial machines; The doctors turn to you and ask: ”Well, what do you think she would want us to do?”. You have no idea so now you have to make a life or death decision for her. Can you be sure you’ll get it right? Why didn’t you take the time to talk about these things?

Or

You get that dreaded phone call in the middle of the night. Your mother has been taken to hospital after having what appears to be a stroke. As you try to make sense of what you’re hearing, the doctor asks you “Do you want her to be treated? There is a chance, though small, she may recover some function.” You feel the anxiety and the weight of the decision you now have to make on behalf of someone you love. If only you had asked her, had more of a discussion about the kinds of things that were important to her. If you had, this decision, though painful, would be much easier.

The theme of the 2025 Dying to Know Day campaign is “Nobody Knows”. It reflects a common source of anxiety and distress amongst those who have ever found themselves trying to make life or death decisions on someone else’s behalf. The campaign puts it this way;

“At its core, Nobody Knows ‘The Secret I’m Glad I Shared’ is a call-out.  Because if Nobody Knows your final wishes, they never will. Share them now.

This year, we’re shining a light on the power of intergenerational conversations. Why? Because only 53% of Australians feel comfortable talking to a family member about their end-of-life.  Spoiler alert: 100% of us will face the end one day. So, we’re creating welcoming spaces for all generations to come together, share their wishes, and have the meaningful conversations that matter most.”

Are you carrying around a private idea about how you might like your final days to look, what outcomes from medical treatment you would or would not accept, where your funeral would be, who gets what after you die…? There’s a lot to think about isn’t there? So think about this; if YOU don’t get it sorted, you’re leaving a bit of a mess behind for the one/s you love to sort out, and all at a time when they’re trying to grieve your exit from this world. Doesn’t sound like a very good plan does it? It’s not just your end-of-life plans (or the”Kark-it File” as I like to call it) but also things about your life that you may want to be remembered for. What is your legacy to your children, your grandchildren, to the community and those you love? There are many things to share, and we can start by gathering our nearest and dearest around the kitchen table to start an open honest conversation.

So, this year, this week, today; take some time to share some of your wishes and preferences with those who are important to you because how will you get want you want if nobody knows?