Portraits Before and After Death

[Dr.Gonzo☠]

Clara Behrens
Age: 83
Born: December 2, 1920
first picture taken on Feb. 6, 2004
died March 3, 2004

Clara Behrens understands that her life is not much. «Sometimes, I still hope to recover,» - she says. «But in those moments when it gets really bad, I do not want to continue to live. I just bought a new refrigerator! If only I had known ... »
Today is the last day of February, the sun is shining, the first bluebells bloom in the garden. «I would very much like to go out and walk along the river Elbe. To sit on the rocky shore, toes in the water. We have always done when they were children and went to the river to collect firewood. If I could live my life again, I would have done everything differently. But is it possible to get another chance in life, I think not. In the end, do you believe only in what you see. And you see only what is here. I'm not afraid of death. I'll be just one of millions, billions of grains of sand in the desert. But the only thing that scares me - is the process of death. I just do not know what is really going on ».

[Dr.Gonzo☠]

Maria Thiet Hai-An Kao
Age: 52
Born: August 26, 1951
first picture taken December 5, 2003
died February 15, 2004

No doubt the experience of dying Mary Hai-An Kao would have been quite different if not for the teachings greatest Mistress Ching Hai. Madam says: «All that out of this world, better than our world. This is better than what we can imagine and what is beyond our imagination ».
Mrs. Kao is on his chest a portrait of Lady. Under her leadership, she was transferred to the other side of life in meditation. Its transition to another world will not keep long in coming: her lungs gradually denied. At the same time, she seems calm and happy. «Death - nothing», - said Frau Kao. «I embrace death. It is not eternal. Once, when we meet with God, we become beautiful. And back on Earth we are called only if we are bound human being in the last moments of our lives ». She is preparing for this moment of every day and tries to reach a state of detachment at the time of death.

[Dr.Gonzo☠]

Edelgard Clive
Age: 67
born June 29, 1936
first picture taken December 5, 2003
died Jan. 4, 2004, at Hospice Helenenstift in Hamburg

Edelgard Clive worked as an administrative assistant in the university psychiatric clinic. She lived alone since the divorce in the early eighties, and she has no children. Even as a teenager, she became an active member of the Protestant Church. In the past few weeks it is completely tied to the bed. «Death - a test of maturity. And everyone goes it alone », - said Mrs. Clive. «I want it to die and become part of this extraordinary world. But dying - it is hard work. Death to manage the whole process, and I can not influence its course. All that I can - is to wait. I was given life, and I had to live it, and now I give it back. I have always worked hard, following the path nun: poverty, chastity and humility. Now I can not benefit society, and this causes me great pain. I do not want to burden society, be a living corpse, a burden. I want to leave, preferably overnight. You must always be ready, as a scout for the battle ».

[Dr.Gonzo☠]

Wolfgang Kottsen
Age: 57
born January 19, 1947
first picture taken Jan. 15, 2004
died Feb. 4, 2004

Bedside table decorated with colorful tulips. Sister had prepared a tray with champagne and cake. Today, Wolfgang Kottsena birthday. «It turns 57. I never thought about that, grow old or that I would die young. But death can come at any time ».
Six months ago, an accountant, a leading reclusive, he was shocked delivered the diagnosis: inoperable bronchial carcinoma. «For me, this news was a real shock. I never thought about her death, I always thought only of life », shares Mr. Kottsen. «And I am surprised that I got over it relatively easily. Now I lie here and am ready to die. But I enjoy every day that I have a feeling full of life. I've never paid attention to the clouds. Now I see everything in a completely different light: every cloud outside the window, every flower in a vase on the table. Suddenly everything was filled with meaning

[Dr.Gonzo☠]

Heiner Schmitz
Age: 52
born November 26, 1951
first picture taken on Nov. 19, 2003
died December 14, 2003

Heiner Schmitz saw the damaged part of the brain on the scan. He immediately realized that he had left little time. Schmitz likes to talk, clearly sets out his thoughts, he is witty and insightful people. He works in advertising. Friends Heiner did not want him sad, and try to distract him. At the hospice they watch football, just as they did before. Beer, cigarettes, parties in the House. Girls from the agency provide him with flowers. Many of them come together, because they do not want to be alone with him. What to say to those who are sentenced to death? Some of them wish him farewell recovery. «I hope you again soon'll be fine, my friend!»
«No one asks me how I feel», recognized Heiner Schmitz. «Because they're all scared to death. It grieves me that all avoid the topic, preferring to talk about any other things. Do not they understand? I'm going to die! This is all I can think, every second, when I am alone ».

[Dawn]

Powerful pictures I have seen them before but didn't know the background.

[xxfriskykittyxx]

Nice post very well taken photos too almost artistic.

[Dr.Gonzo☠]

[Dr.Gonzo☠]

I remember thinking that at my grandmother's funeral too, I was looking at the corpse and thinking she looked like she could just open her eyes and wake up.

But of course one cannot recover from death

[structive]

thank you for that. Would be interesting to draw these portraits by pencil, they are very expressive!