Beloved children’s author Robert Munsch has been approved for medically assisted death. Munsch, who wrote dozens of children’s books, including Love You Forever and The Paper Bag Princess, applied for “medical assistance in dying,” or MAID, in Canada after being diagnosed with dementia, he told the New York Times during a recent interview. He received his diagnosis in 2021, the Toronto Star reported.
Though he has been approved for physician-assisted death, which has been legal in Canada since 2016, the 80-year-old storyteller is not dying “anytime soon,” according to his daughter. Munsch told the publication that he might move forward with it “when I start having real trouble talking and communicating.”
After the piece was published, many people shared their condolences and love with Munsch and his family. This prompted the author’s daughter, Julie Munsch, to explain that her father isn’t dying. In a message shared via her father’s Facebook page, the author’s daughter wrote, “My father IS NOT DYING!!! Thanks to everyone and their well wishes, however, my father’s choice to use MAID was in fact made five years ago, this is not new news and it was discussed in an interview with the CBC in 2021.”
She added that her father is “doing well,” but acknowledged that his condition could worsen “at any point” in the future. “My dad is doing well but of course with a degenerative disease it can begin to progress quickly at any point,” she continued. “The New York Times article is a great interview with my dad and nowhere does it say my dad isn’t doing well, nor that he’s going to die anytime soon! Please beware of clickbait!”
Reacting to the story on Reddit, many people were supportive of the author’s decision. “Thank you for the stories, Mr. Munsch,” one fan wrote. “They filled my childhood with fun and laughter. I hope passing on his own terms will prove a comfort to him and his loved ones.”
Several fans described Munsch as a “legend” and reflected on how they grew up reading his stories. “I grew up with his stories. He was so important to mine and millions of other Canadian childhoods. You will always be remembered fondly,” another fan commented. “Dementia is such a terrible disease, and having seen three grandparents go through it, I 100% understand his decision.”
A third fan added, “Love You Forever is the saddest book you will ever read to a toddler, but they won’t know it. Glad he can find peace on his own terms.”
