My Aunt lived 7 years with ALS. Her son, 8 years later, lived 2 years with ALS. (her ALS started in her legs, his started in his chest – usually a faster form of ALS)
My Aunt wanted to die, she wanted to end it before she became so incapacitated that she had no life. She was clear about it, but instead, she suffered. A lot. My cousin, 2 years. Well, that is an estimate. He knew, before the doctors did, what he had. He watched his mother and he knew what was killing him. Once he finally went for the diagnosis – usually, it take a little while for the diagnosis, but within a few months, he was diagnosed and going downhill, fast.
He wanted a choice, too.
I believe we should have the right to make this decision. I wonder, sometimes, if the people that are strongly against this have ever had to watch someone suffer and die from something like this, or other diseases. It’s horrible, for the person, for the family. The impact is tremendous. I had no problem with helping her, being a caregiver – it was hard, it wears you out, but at the end, seeing the suffering – my God, it never leaves your mind. She suffered. My cousin suffered. It doesn’t have to be that way.
I understand the doctor’s problem with this – it conflicts – so they say – with the oath, “Do no harm”; however, I ask, how is it not doing harm, to let someone suffer like that – isn’t that harm?
My aunt had a host of allergies and certain meds that could have relieved her pain, only made things worse…it was horrible.