Right-to-Die Activist Ends Life by Starving Herself to ‘Protect My Children From Seeing Me Choke and Struggle to Breathe'

Yahoo

6 days ago

Two years ago, Emma Bray, 42, was diagnosed with a terminal neurological condition called motor neuron disease
She decided to end her life by starving herself, hoping to spare her children from witnessing her decline any further
The mom of two announced her own death on Instagram on July 14 alongside a final photo of herself lying in a hospice bedA British mother made the tough decision to starve herself to death to spare her children from witnessing the devastating effects of her terminal neurological condition.
Two years ago, Emma Bray from Barnstaple, England, was diagnosed with motor neuron disease (MND).
MND is a group of neurological disorders that gradually destroy the motor neurons, according to the Cleveland Clinic. These nerve cells are found in the brain and spinal cord, and they control muscle movement for activities like breathing, speaking, swallowing and walking. ALS — also known as Lou Gehrig's disease — is the most common MND.
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'I've had four different health professionals tell me I've got the worst disease possible,' she told The Mirror in May, using an eye-gazing machine to speak. 'I now feel I am at the stage where my quality of life is very affected, I can no longer use any of my limbs. My talking is severely affected, and I struggle to eat, and it's getting harder to breathe. I am only really comfortable in bed, and social visits are exhausting.'
'I have carers multiple times a day, can't be left alone overnight and can no longer do any basic tasks,' the 42-year-old continued. 'I can't scratch an itch, push up my glasses, or move a bed sheet if I am too hot or cold. I feel like I am losing the essence of me. I am still so loved, but I can't be myself, and I see that grief on everyone's faces."
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Bray — who actively campaigned for Dignity in Dying — was an advocate for the Assisted Dying Bill, which would allow adults in the UK who are terminally ill to have the choice of medical aid in dying. She said, if it were passed, it would've prevented her loved ones suffering for two years with anticipatory grief.
'Imagine seeing your children crying and upset and not be able to hug them or curl up in bed and wipe their tears away,' she told the outlet, referring to her children, age 15 and 14. 'This is hands down the thing I hate the most about motor neurone disease. It's taken my children's mum from them little by little.'
So, Bray decided to end her life using the 'voluntarily stopping eating or drinking' practice, also known as VSED.
According to nonprofit Compassion & Choices — which provides resources, training and support for those navigating end-of-life health care — VSED is 'when a mentally capable individual decides to control their own dying by making a conscious decision to refuse foods and fluids of any kind.'
'VSED is not an easy death, but with the current law in England, this is the only way I can have control over my death,' Bray explained. 'I want to protect my children from seeing me choke and struggle to breathe. I don't want to die, but I am going to and have come to terms with my impending death, and I know I want to die surrounded by loved ones, music and laughter, not in an emergency way after further decline.'
'My last bit of parenting I can do is to limit the suffering and trauma they have to witness,' she added. 'I made a promise to myself that I wanted to wait to see my daughter finish high school and my son grow up a little so I can picture the man he will become.'
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In her final months, she told the outlet that she's urging members of parliament to help others 'die with peace.'
On Monday, July 14, Bray — from her @stupid_mnd account — posted on Instagram, announcing her own death alongside a final photo of herself lying in a hospice bed overlooking the trees.
'If you are reading this then I've finished my final spin round the sun,' she wrote. 'I've lived a very good life, surrounded by love, music and laughter and I want this to continue in my memory. Rather than shed a tear (or whilst you do) please plant a tree or call a friend, do a random act of kindness or take time to watch a sunset. For moments of doubt please ask 'what would Emma do?' and run with that probably inappropriate answer.'
'Hug everyone a little tighter and love openly,' she ended. 'Please surround those who were closest to me with love, time and patience. And to quote Frank Turner - Remember you get to dance another day but now you have to dance for one more of us. Love you , bye.'
Read the original article on People