Robin Williams' Final Words Before His Last Breath Echo Through His Wife's Heart Even Today

Sep 02, 2020 by apost team

August 11, 2014, marked the day of Robin Williams’ tragic passing. News of the star’s death shook the whole world, with many not even aware of the late actors’ painful battle with depression and Lewy body dementia (LBD) which eventually lead to his taking his own life.

Two years later, his widow Susan Schneider Williams, 56, wrote her personal account of witnessing her husband’s demise in the time leading up to his death titled, “The terrorist inside my husband's brain.”

Schneider-Williams begins her story by first explaining why she chose to share her experience with the American Academy of Neurology and the world. She says she hopes she can “help [the institution] understand [their] patients along with their spouses and caregivers a little more.”

“This is a personal story, sadly tragic and heartbreaking,” she writes, “but by sharing this information with you I know that you can help make a difference in the lives of others.”

apost.com

The 56-year-old went on to reveal her late husband was not diagnosed with LBD until after his death, saying his pathologies were “one of the worst” the doctors had ever seen.

“He had about 40% loss of dopamine neurons and almost no neurons were free of Lewy bodies throughout the entire brain and brainstem.”

Lewy body dementia is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s and has many difficult symptoms including visual hallucinations, cognitive problems, movement disorders, depression, and more. 

According to Alzheimer's Association, "Most people diagnosed with Lewy body dementia have no family history of the disorder, and no genes linked to Lewy body dementia have been conclusively identified.”

“It felt like he was drowning in his symptoms, and I was drowning along with him,” Schneider-Williams recounted. “Typically the plethora of LBD symptoms appear and disappear at random times—even throughout the course of a day. I experienced my brilliant husband being lucid with clear reasoning 1 minute and then, 5 minutes later, blank, lost in confusion.”

Schneider-Williams, however, described the days leading up to her husband’s passing as “perfect,” which caused her to believe the "terrorist" inside her husband's brain was "calming." 

“We did all the things we love on Saturday day and into the evening, it was perfect—like one long date. By the end of Sunday, I was feeling that he was getting better. When we retired for sleep, in our customary way, my husband said to me, 'Goodnight, my love,' and waited for my familiar reply: 'Goodnight, my love.' His words still echo through my heart today. Monday, August 11, Robin was gone."

What are your thoughts on Susan's story? Let us know in the comments.

If you or anybody you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, please call Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free, and confidential support for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. Your health is important to us!