Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Join Dr. Pinkston as she welcomes Erica Bacchus, author of the deeply personal book, A Promise Kept. Erica shares the extraordinary and heartbreaking story of her late husband, John, and his battle with early cognitive impairment consistent with Alzheimer's disease.
This conversation delves into a highly controversial and often-unspoken topic: end-of-life choices in the face of neurodegenerative disease. Erica describes the difficulty of John's diagnosis, his profound desire to maintain agency and dignity, and the intense emotional journey she undertook as his caregiver. They discuss:
The challenge of Alzheimer's and end-of-life options, particularly the catch-22 regarding mental capacity and current U.S. laws like Medical Assistance in Dying.
The couple's decision to seek assistance at Dignitas in Switzerland and the seven-month, complex application process.
The overwhelming emotional toll of caregiving, the isolation, and the importance of honoring a spouse's deeply held, personal beliefs about life, purpose, and death.
Erica's story is a testament to unwavering love, shared independence, and the courage it takes to support a loved one's choice to have a peaceful, dignified end on their own terms.
Join Dr. Pinkston as she welcomes Erica Bacchus, author of the deeply personal book, A Promise Kept. Erica shares the extraordinary and heartbreaking story of her late husband, John, and his battle with early cognitive impairment consistent with Alzheimer's disease.
This conversation delves into a highly controversial and often-unspoken topic: end-of-life choices in the face of neurodegenerative disease. Erica describes the difficulty of John's diagnosis, his profound desire to maintain agency and dignity, and the intense emotional journey she undertook as his caregiver. They discuss:
The challenge of Alzheimer's and end-of-life options, particularly the catch-22 regarding mental capacity and current U.S. laws like Medical Assistance in Dying.
The couple's decision to seek assistance at Dignitas in Switzerland and the seven-month, complex application process.
The overwhelming emotional toll of caregiving, the isolation, and the importance of honoring a spouse's deeply held, personal beliefs about life, purpose, and death.
Erica's story is a testament to unwavering love, shared independence, and the courage it takes to support a loved one's choice to have a peaceful, dignified end on their own terms.
