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Brave woman
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 2:19 am
by Gob
The terminally-ill woman whose decision to end her life "on her own terms" made headlines worldwide has died.
Brittany Maynard ended her own life at home in Portland, in the US state of Oregon, on Saturday, November 1, People magazine reported.
The 29-year-old reportedly wrote on Facebook: "Goodbye to all my dear friends and family that I love. Today is the day I have chosen to pass away with dignity in the face of my terminal illness, this terrible brain cancer that has taken so much from me … but would have taken so much more."
"The world is a beautiful place, travel has been my greatest teacher, my close friends and folks are the greatest givers. I even have a ring of support around my bed as I type … Goodbye world. Spread good energy. Pay it forward!"
In April, doctors diagnosed Maynard with an aggressive brain tumour, and gave her six months to live.
She made plans to die on her own terms, in the process becoming the public face of the right-to-die movement.
She had determined November 1 as the date she would die.
Read more:
http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life/br ... z3Hy4g7GI3
Re: Brave woman
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 2:45 pm
by Big RR
I'm very happy for her ending her life the way she wanted; too few people get to do that. Rest in Peace.
Re: Brave woman
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 7:44 pm
by kristina
RIP
Re: Brave woman
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 8:26 pm
by Lord Jim
I don't think "happy" is a word I would use in a situation like this...
A 29 year old being struck with a terminal illness is a tragedy; any way you cut it, regardless of what one thinks of her decision, or her right to make it.
Re: Brave woman
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 8:44 pm
by Big RR
Of course it's a tragedy Jim; no one should have to go through the ravages of terrible diseases. I'm not happy in the sense that her death makes me feel cheerful, but if her ability to control the hour and manner of her passing gave her any peace (and based on her previous statements, I would think it did), then I am happy for her being able to have that last scrap of peace and dignity in her life.
eta: FWIW, when my father was within a few days of the end of his life (after an extended and debilitating illness) he got to a point where he just gave up and let go; for the next few days he seemed to have more of a sense of peace in his expressions and behavior (he pretty much couldn't communicate then), and when he passed I was happy for him and those last few days/hours. Dying is a tragedy, but facing it head on and seeing it as the next step away from the pain and suffering you are experiencing here is a blessing.
Re: Brave woman
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 9:24 pm
by Gob
My father, in the final stages of lung cancer, was drowning in his own body fluids.
His GP, and old school chum of mine, gave him some tablets with the "strict instructions"; "I'm leaving you ten of these John, don't take more than three as that would be fatal."
I'll always be grateful to Chris for that.