OK - I know it's highly unlikely, but unlikely doesn't = impossible. In the event that something goes horribly wrong, I'd much prefer everyone to know what I would want happen, rather than trying to guess (or worse still, enforce their own wishes).
And as far as "the worst" happening, for me that is not death. I'm actually pretty much at peace with that concept - and while it's certainly not something I wish to face for many, many years yet (there's still SO much stuff I want to do), it's not something that scares me. What DOES scare me, however, is ending up in a vegetative state - unable to move or communicate. Again, that's a highly unlikely outcome, but strokes do happen with this kind of surgery and that really is the very worst possible outcome I can think of.
So... let's put it out there. If the very worst does come to pass, what then? Well, I for one don't want to be left lingering indefinitely with all the social finesse of a carrot. I'm happy to be given sufficient time for my body/brain to recover, but if it becomes apparent that all the time in the world isn't going to help, that I'm never going to be more that a shell of a person in a hospital bed.... then I'd much rather be put out of my misery and depart this mortal coil. Why prolong both my suffering and the suffering of my loved ones? I would rather they be able to mourn my passing and move on, than have to live in limbo... waiting for the inevitable to happen... waiting to get their lives back... waiting... waiting...
Waiting sucks!
To be honest, should that most awful scenario ever happen - from this surgery, or indeed, anything else - then I wouldn't want things to go on for more than 2 years at the absolute most. Less if it's clear things will never improve (but give me at least 6 months!). And for all the do-gooders who want to start waving their religious beliefs in my face, please don't. While I respect your right to believe what you want, please also respect mine. I do not believe in religion. Your arguments hold no weight with me. If it comes down to a life not worth living, then I would rather no life at all.
Let's face it - death is inevitable for us all eventually, so why is everyone so determined to try and avoid it at all costs? You can't. I would rather accept it and be done, than to remain alive as a parody of all that I was. To me that is a greater tribute to life.
So there it is! Again.. probably much pontificating about something I'll probably never have to worry about - but like packing a suitcase for a weekend away; I'd rather have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.
Meanwhile, cremation has always been my departure of choice (with my ashes buried beneath a tree... perhaps a birch, which is my favourite), however those very clever Swedes have come up with a fascinating new alternative (bless my viking rellies!); they have devised a method where they cryogenically freeze your remains, dip them in liquid nitrogen and then vibrate them until they crumble into a fine powder. I'm hoping that by the time I need to avail myself of such a service that it will be available to me.
Very cool - pardon the pun! 
I guess I'll figure it out..! Maybe I can put them on backwards and just wear them open at the back like a hospital gown 
ooh-la-la!
). Hopefully things will be much happier in a couple of weeks. There was one tooth she thought may have the beginnings of a cavity... there was a dark patch on the x-ray, but she also thought it could be my sinus. She took it down to a whatever-you-call-it-root-canal specialist today for him to have a look at, and while he also thought it was probably sinus, they want me to go in for a spanky full-face x-ray next week - just to be on the safe side. Oh for joy. No wonder I don't have any brain cells left!
