KLUG & TOD: Nikola Kress – Wie begleitet man sein Kind beim Sterben?

Before we begin, an important note: In this podcast, we speak openly about euthanasia, assisted dying, and suicide. If this is difficult for you to listen to, please do not listen to the episode alone. You can find anonymous help by contacting the suicide prevention hotline at 0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222, as well as at suizidprophylaxe.de. In this episode of "Klug & Tod" (Smart & Death), Johanna Klug, author and bereavement counselor, speaks with Nikola Kress: actress, painter, and mother of a son who chose to die with dignity. In this very personal conversation, she tells the story of her son Robin, who lived with Duchenne muscular dystrophy—a progressive disease that gradually robbed him of all physical strength. Nikola talks about what it's like to raise a child with this diagnosis, how early death became a topic of conversation, and how Robin, despite everything, led a self-determined life. At its heart lies one of the most difficult questions of all: What does it mean to let go when your own child wants to die? It's about maternal love and autonomy, about responsibility and the moment when clinging becomes letting go – and about life afterward. A conversation about love, loss, and self-determination. "Smart & Death" is an initiative of the German Society for Humane Dying (DGHS) and a production of Studio Trill. It opens a space for conversations about dying, grief, self-determination, and assisted suicide – honest, relatable, and without taboos. New episodes are released every two weeks.