Maurice Francis Prevost

     I was born the 9th of 18 children in Tweed Ontario. I went to a one room school where most of my classmates were siblings or cousins.  I’m so old…sofa king old, that I went with my dad on a horse drawn bobsleigh to get wood.  I bought my first bike with money I made from trapping beaver and muskrat. I was dumb enough to play hide and seek at nighttime with skidoos on lakes not fully frozen. We would turn off the lights and hide amongst the trees near the shore.
    When I was young, I was spending too much time in bars, so I moved to Terrace BC and started work at the mill.  I worked my way up by loading boxcars and eventually got to be a planerman.  Barbara helped me get my math good enough to pass my provincial exams to become a ticketed tradesman. I loved my work in the wood industry. I worked in Terrace, Hazelton, Williams Lake, McKenzie and finally Houston, which was once the forestry capital of the world. I was with a lot of good workers
   One of the best things is spending time with my grandchildren. They are funny, wise guys and so interesting, and very special to me. Many of the kids that call me grandad are not technically related, but they all mean so much to me. You are precious and important. Remember that! I feel very close to Paula Weibe’s children too. 
   I have frontotemporal dementia which is harsh and fast. I have chosen to have MAiD…Medically assisted death. This decision is very hard for my wife Barbara, but she has helped me fight to receive MAiD. She understands and respects this as my personal decision. As a child I was hospitalized for a long time because of a farming accident. My physical wounds healed after some months, but the emotional wounds are with me to this day. I would rather die than spend my last years in an institution away from my wife and dogs.
    Because of the FTD there were times when I was not in my right mind. At those times I had help from the RCMP and search and rescue folks. I know I cost them time and money and thank you so much for all the efforts to help me.  I also thank the Houston residents who posted on Facebook to make sure I had many searching for me.  After that big event I haven’t gotten away with anything. Lol. As soon as I have a bad spell Barbara gets calls from concerned Houston residents and there will be a caring person knocking on the door offering to help. 
   I’ve heard people say that I live in a bad neighborhood, that's not true because Jack and Toni live next door. I’ve lived here for over 20 years and only had 1 thing stolen… a snow shovel after a big winter storm.
   Many people in the community have supported us through this extremely difficult time. I would like to mention some of the generous and kind folks who help my wife who never stops crying! Holy cow she’s crying again! She says it is healthy to cry… she must be so healthy! Jacky at hospice, everyone at Pharmasave, all the ladies at RBC, everyone at the vet office, the people at buy low who watch out for me while I shop. The friends at Pawsome Adventures, and Barbara’s co-workers at the health clinic. NP Paula Gansner, NP Bradin, Dr Haskins, my sisters and sister-in-law.
   Sharon Carrington at creative roots made my wife so happy teaching us ballroom dance. It's not easy when I have 2 left feet. I was embarrassed and didn't want to go but I kept on and got good at it after a while. I'm really proud of myself that I did not give up!
   Many thanks to the PRH personal growth leaders and groups who taught me how to write how I feel. This is one unexpected skill that I can still use even if I can’t do simple repairs around the house. FTD has taken so much of my abilities but not that…go figure?
  When I picked my casket, I chose a very nice pine box. I feel like I belong there in the nicely finished boards which were my life’s work. See you on the other side. Maurice Prevost, (Grandad).

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