An Announcement from Nicole Nuttall

When Faith Sommerfield started the Completed Life Initiative (CLI) in 2019 she said, “Life is such an incredible gift. It’s our responsibility, depending on who and how we want to be, to give our lives as much meaning as possible.”

I have thought a lot about this statement over the last six years, working with CLI’s dedicated team to help Faith’s vision become a reality.  

My views on end-of-life care were formed by personal experiences. I watched my grandmother’s difficult decline in a nursing home over a number of years. My mother suffered through multiple strokes and dementia over nearly a decade. By the end of her life, she was bedridden. My father bravely battled metastatic prostate cancer before his death. All of these experiences led me to believe in personal autonomy and that everyone should have a choice regarding how they end their life.

And then there was Faith. In 2022, riddled with pain and a poor prognosis, she decided to die at a time of her choosing in Switzerland. I was there as she passed, classical music playing, her last words, “I love you.” It was an amazing moment. I felt grief but not sadness, I was happy for her. It was at that moment I realized I needed to further dedicate myself to helping others navigate their own end-of-life experiences.

Since CLI’s founding I have worked to continue Faith’s mission as the organization’s Vice President & Treasurer of the Board. Over this time, CLI has been an active, compassionate and important voice for end-of-life care. 

Despite CLI’s work, and the work of many other dedicated organizations, there are still a lot of misconceptions when it comes to end-of-life choices. We need to have honest conversations about these choices while helping educate clinicians and the public. We also need to help people feel more comfortable in this conversation. 

My passion for personal autonomy and desire to be an agent of change on this important issue is stronger than ever, which is why I am honored and excited to announce my new role as Chair of the Board of CLI.

I do want to take a moment to thank our former Chair, Jason Smith. Jason’s guidance, commitment, compassion, and integrity have shaped the organization and helped steer it toward fulfilling its mission. I am grateful for Jason’s support towards the organization and look forward to his continued involvement on the CLI Board. 

Over the coming months, my focus will be on continuing to advocate for end-of-life choices that provide dignity and peace for those who seek and qualify for such care, while also strengthening our organization’s Board and funding so we can continue to champion these services across the U.S. As end-of-life care continues to be debated by policymakers across the country, we are entering a pivotal stage in our growth. I am eager to work alongside our board members, staff and like-minded organizations to lead on this critically important issue.