A parent’s worst fear is losing their child at any age, let alone a young age. So when one dad, Patrick Holland, was forced to come to terms with his 27-year-old daughter’s decision to die through assisted death due to her terminal illness, it was a moment that was, for him, impossible to get through. His daughter, Annaliese ‘Annie’ Holland, spoke to news.com.au in 2025 about her decision and how she got through it with her family and loved ones.
For Annie, it was a matter of living the rest of her life on her terms. At the same time, Patrick dealt with supporting his daughter while also planning to say goodbye to her. She was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease at the age of 15, but she had battled the effects of it since the age of 12.
The dad admitted how difficult it was for him to come to terms with her decision.
Annie was diagnosed with Autoimmune Autonomic Ganglionopathy (AAG) when she was 15 years old. According to the Cleveland Clinic, AAG happens when your immune system attacks your nervous system. Symptoms include fainting, low blood pressure, and dilated pupils, among other telltale signs.
AAG isn’t typically fatal as an autoimmune disease on its own. However, due to complications related to the condition, it can lead to more serious problems. For Annie, her organs were beginning to fail and she was in a lot of pain when she decided that her end of life care involved assisted dying.
Annie’s dad Patrick told news.com.au, “This is not about us, it’s about Annie. Every time she goes to hospital she fights for her own life. It always goes the same way… something that is meant to be so simple goes pear shaped for her. The amount of times Annie has been in hospital and on her death bed…to have to sit there and watch her go through it.”
Patrick also noted, “Every time she goes to hospital she fights for her own life.”
So when Annie told Patrick that she wants him to “let her go” if he has to, it was something he had to come to terms with and understand on his own. But he did.
“I understand,” he told the outlet, of what he told his daughter. “I don’t know how you do it, you’ve had enough. I understand.”
She came up with a bucket list that her family helped her work through.
According to LADBible, Annie came up with a bucket list, or as she calls it, a “f–k it” list of everything she wants to do before she dies, in light of her autoimmune disease and complications. Some of the things included on her list of what she wants to see or experience are seeing a baby born, renting her own apartment, and wearing a wedding dress and getting her father’s reaction.
The latter was obviously an especially tough moment for Annie’s dad. But, it seems, he is doing his best to remain supportive because that’s what Annie needs the most from him.
Friends started a GoFundMe for the family.
Because of Annie’s health, her strong relationship with her family, and her plans for her future, one of Annie’s friends started a GoFundMe for Annie and her family. As of late June 2026, the fundraiser surpassed $60,000 AUD with a $70,000 AUD goal.
Annie’s friend wrote on the GoFundMe page, “My hope is that this fundraiser will give Annie and her family something they’ve rarely had: time together to make memories, without financial pressure dictating how that time is spent.”
READ NEXT: Woman Discovers Her Daughter Has Terminal Illness After Seeing Baby Who Resembled Hers
