This is Brittany Maynard’s People cover from a few weeks ago. By now, many of you know that Brittany took her own life on Saturday at her Portland, Oregon home. Brittany publicized her cause for months in the face of certain death. In April, she was given 6 months to live due to stage 4 glioblastoma. This final diagnosis followed surgery to remove the tumor, which returned and grew to twice its previous size. When Brittany learned that chemo wouldn’t save her life (and would make her quality of life worse), she moved from California to Oregon in order to access that state’s Death with Dignity Act. Brittany qualified under the law’s provisions and gained a prescripion to end her life on her own terms.
Brittany publicly decided on a date — Nov. 1 — just weeks before her 30th birthday. She spent her last months travelling with her husband, friends, and mother. Brittany expressed great relief at being able to choose not to die in the manner her disease would dictate. She was not suicidal, and she did not want to die. But Brittany knew she was dying, and she wanted to go out with dignity. She chose to leave the Earth before her quality of life declined too much. According to People, Brittany typed this message before taking her life:
“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!”
[From People]
Brittany carried out her last months on earth with incredible strength. She invited people on her journey and allowed everyone a glimpse into her final days. Oregon is one of just a few states (including Washington and Vermont) that have Death with Dignity statutes in place (although other states are working on it). It’s a shame that every state hasn’t caught up yet; special interest groups work hard to deny people the right to make the ultimate decision on their own.
Here’s Brittany’s video from TheBrittanyFund.org.
Photos courtesy of People & The BrittanyFund.org
Special thanks Cele Bitch
