Created: 4/15/2009 7:47:06 PM 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- It could happen to anyone. A tragic accident. A sudden heart attack or stroke. If it were to happen to you or a loved one, would you be prepared? April 16th is the second annual National Healthcare Decisions Day. It's an effort to help you prepare in the event you or a loved one can't make medical decisions yourselves. Watch the video news clip of a special segment on First Coast News at 7 p.m. (ABC-25) to hear just how important planning ahead can be for distraught loved ones who may not know your wishes. 2 guests joined news anchors Deanna Fene and Joy Purdy to discuss the "Five Wishes"; created by the Tallahassee based non-profit organization Aging With Dignity. The Five Wishes is a legally-valid booklet used to help people express in their own words their wishes for the kind of care they want in the event of a serious illness. Jennifer Martin with Community Hospice of Northeast Florida says it's a great tool to have if you can't speak for yourself. She was one of the guests discussing these 5 objectives. The other guest, was Terri Garcia who told Deanna and Joy that she just lost her husband to cancer in March. Hear both women's accounts about why they feel it's so important to include the Five Wishes in plans for your future.
