On November 1, Brittany Maynard will end her life. After suffering from debilitating headaches, the 29-year-old woman was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and given only a few months to live. Doctors informed her that stage 4 glioblastoma, a malignant brain tumor, would result in a terrible and painful end. She decided that being able to choose to go with dignity was less terrifying and plans to pass peaceful, surrounded by her husband, family and best friend.
Maynard launched an online video campaign with Compassion & Choices, an end-of-life advocacy organization that's fighting to expand death-with-dignity laws in the U.S. Currently, only five states – Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont and New Mexico – have authorized aid in dying. She has moved her family to Portland earlier this year.
Her pain has increased over the past month, and she knows she's making the right decision to end her life. In an open letter to CNN, Maynard wrote, "I am dying. And I want to die on my own terms… Having this choice at the end of my life has become incredibly important. It has given me a sense of peace during a tumultuous time that otherwise would be dominated by fear, uncertainty and pain. Now, I'm able to move forward in my remaining days or weeks I have on this beautiful Earth."
Watch Maynard and her family tell her story, and please SHARE this video.
