Most people think that life after marriage will be calm, peaceful, maybe even a little boring. Unfortunately, that's a luxury some will never be afforded.
Shortly after 29-year-old Brittany Maynard was married, she began having debilitating headaches. Last January, she was diagnosed with cancer.
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While Maynard was originally given up to 10 years, she later found out she was suffering from stage 4 glioblastoma, a malignant brain tumor. In April, doctors informed her that she had just six months to live.
And on November 1, Maynard will end her own life with medication prescribed to her by her doctor.
Maynard launched an online video campaign Monday with the nonprofit Compassion & Choices, an end-of-life choice advocacy organization, to fight for expanding death-with-dignity laws nationwide.
Maynard wants to make it clear that her decision to end her life should not be confused with suicide.
She told People magazine in an exclusive interview, 'There is not a cell in my body that is suicidal or that wants to die. I want to live. I wish there was a cure for this disease but there's not.'
She continued, 'My glioblastoma is going to kill me, and that's out of my control.' I've discussed with many experts how I would die from it, and it's a terrible, terrible way to die. Being able to choose to go with dignity is less terrifying.'
The campaign's six-minute video includes interviews with Brittany, as well as with her mother, Debbie Ziegler, and husband, Dian Diaz, 42.
'My entire family has gone through a cycle of devastation,' she says. 'I'm an only child - this is going to make tears come to my eyes. For my mother, it's really difficult, and for my husband as well, but they've all supported me because they've stood in hospital rooms and heard what would happen to me.'
Maynard moved from San Francisco to Oregon with her entire family so she could have access to Oregon's Death with Dignity Act, which has been in place since late 1997. Since then, 1,173 people have had prescriptions under the act. 752 have used them to die.
Only four other states - Washington, Montana Vermont and New Mexico - have authorized aid in dying. Compassion & Choices has campaigns in place in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey.
Maynard says, 'I believe this choice is ethical, and what makes it ethical is it is a choice. The patient can change their mind right up to the last minute. I feel very protected here in Oregon.'
'I'm dying, but I'm choosing to suffer less... to put myself through less physical and emotional pain and my family as well.'
Posted by Unknown on Tuesday, October 7, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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