Brittany Maynard Ends Her Life
- Carrie Dedrick
- Updated Nov 03, 2014
Brittany Maynard, the 29-year-old woman with terminal brain cancer who recently gained national attention for planning to end her life through physician-assisted suicide, went through with her plans on Nov. 1.
Last week, Maynard considered putting off the procedure, saying, “I still feel good enough and I still have enough jo, and I still laugh and smile with my family and friends enough that it doesn’t seem like the right time, right now.”
However, non-profit group Compassion & Choices reported that Maynard began to suffer from more frequent and longer seizures, pain and stroke-like symptoms in recent days.
“As symptoms grew more severe she chose to abbreviate the dying process by taking the aid-in-dying medication she had received months ago,” said Sean Crowley, a Compassion & Choices spokesman.
“She passed peacefully in her bed surrounded by close family and loved ones,” Crowley said.
On Saturday, Maynard posted the following message 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!"
Publication date: November 3, 2014