Woman Choosing To End Her Life

I admire her courage in facing the unknown.  Undoubtedly she is in great pain, and that is causing her family to experience it as well.  If a consensus of medical experts is that her condition is terminal, then why wait it out and face the excruciating pain of the cancer and the pain that her family will experience in witnessing her pain.  I've witnessed the pain of terminal cancer and it was terrifying.  I don't know if her decision is right or wrong, but I support her decision to end her own life under these circumstances. 

I guess she didn't pray hard enough.  Or God has some plan in mind.  Maybe it is to get her bill passed.

Hi all,

 

That is truly sad; but I can understand her decision to not want to put herself and her family through the suffering.  The thing which has me most concerned is -- does she have a relationship with Jesus Christ?   The NY Post article does not mention either way -- and possibly that is her choice to not mention it -- for then some would criticize her decision.   But, I do pray that she is a believer -- or that before November 1 God sends someone to tell her about Jesus Christ.

 

I am not suggesting that someone goes to her and try to use Jesus Christ to talk her out of it.  I am suggesting someone accept her decision -- and yet talk with her about receiving Jesus Christ while there is still time -- before November 1.

 

In just the last month or so, there was a man, Pedro, who is well known in Christian circles on the West Coast -- as a Christian musician and as a Bible teacher -- who had cancer and went into a coma.  The doctors gave him only a short time, days, hours, to live.  Close friends from Calvary Chapel in Southern California went to Oregon to spend time with him before the end.  They stayed a few day and left to come home -- fully expecting that was the last time they would see him again in this life.

 

He held on in a coma for a week or so -- and then came out of it, fully aware, lucid, and alive.  Today I saw photos taken of him during those weeks -- sitting up in bed, playing his guitar and flute, talking and smiling with people, walking around -- full of life and full of the blessed smile for which he was known.

 

This went on for a week or two -- and then he died suddenly.  Was that a cruel joke from God?  Of course not.  That was a blessing from God that his family and friends could share quality time with him before he died.  I say, "Praise God!" -- and so do many other people.  And, we know we will see him again in heaven.

 

Some years ago, Dr. James Dobson shared about his father's death.  Similar to the one above, his father went into a coma and was at the door of death.  Dr. Dobson was there to spend time with him, but without being able to say goodbye.

 

Just as miraculously as the man, Pedro, above -- Dr. Dobson's father came out of the coma and was very lucid for several days.  The family had a chance to share quality time with him, and to say goodbye.  After a day or so, he did die -- but, the family had closure.   That is the beauty of a Christian death.

 

When my mom went into a coma in 1994, I flew home to be with her.  But, she did not come out of the coma -- and two days later she went home to be with our Lord.  So, I can appreciate the feelings of thankfulness that Pedro's family and Dr. Dobson's family had to be able to have that last quality time.

 

As I said, I pray this lady is a believer.  Then, this will not be such a tragedy -- for the family can be together again one day.

 

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

 

Bill

Crust, PM me re this topic... I have something to share with you and some others...

Will do.  That reference to Jonah was helpful.  Thanks.

Just wondering.  Why couldn't the chemicals prescribed in that Oregon Death with Dignity Act be used in lethal injections in the prisons of this nation?

 

As clarification, I am opposed to the death penalty.  The question is an academic one. The justice system in this country has had all kinds of difficulty with bringing about deaths by lethal injection, but hundreds of Oregonians have used chemical means to end their lives.  Are some of these Oregon cases going through the kind of clumsy, protracted and undignified deaths reported from our prison system death chambers?    Even the notorious "Dr. Death" himself, Jack Kervorkian, seemed to have hit upon a quiet, painless euthanasia process.  What's up here?

______

I enjoy these PM's with all of you.

Wow! Why would anyone go be with a woman he ignored for 5 years? Can you imagine the talk that went on within the family over that one.

I feel like it's her life and she should be able to end it. At the end of the day, It's nobody's decision but hers to make. 

In an interview with Brittany's mother. Her mother said Brittany would meet her in Machu Picchu...

Britany and her husband liked traveling and hiking, they had been to Machu Picchu.   Brittany wants her mother to go there after she dies  to visit/hike.

This is the only indication that she believes in an after life.  I didn't read or hear of any religious affiliation. 

Seems like a very scary situation to be in. I feel sad for them.

 

"A terminally ill woman in Oregon who decided it would be better to die than to suffer a long, painful illness, has taken her own life. People Magazine is reporting that cancer patient Brittany Maynard, 29, died at her home in Portland Saturday".

 

There's a lot of discussion on Facebook about this woman going to Hell because she committed suicide. First, it's a shame that people are posting something that her family will possibly see & be hurt by. There's a post on FB in which a lady said "I believe we have a compassionate GOD. I DO think he would not consider this suicide but MERCY. God does not want his children to suffer. It hurts him." That's one of the most ridiculous comments I've ever heard! He doesn't want his children to suffer???? It hurts him?????? Who gave her Cancer if not God? Who was causing her pain & suffering if not God??? Those of you that believe He answers prayers, why wasn't she healed??? I know the answer's I'll get but I'm curious if anyone can come up with something new.

 

 

Hell is a made up place used to threaten wayward children and keep money hitting the plate. It's "Plan B" when cajoling doesn't work.

You don't "go" anywhere after you're dead.......

Because you're dead.  

May she rest in peace. Having taken care of a family member for 4 months as he was dying of brain cancer I have to say that I would do the same thing as Brittany did. Brain cancer is very cruel.

 

Make sure you talk to family and your mates about what you would want in a situation like that. My b-I-l was kept alive with a feeding tube and s-I-l agonized over whether she was doing the right thing--- they had never discussed what should be done if either one was faced with a fatal disease. When I came home from the funeral we went to a lawyer and made our will and gave each other power of attorney. It gets very complicated if something happens to you and you are still alive but can't communicate.

 

Puppy, I admire your conviction that when you die there is no after life. Maybe. But who knows? There is no way to prove it either way.

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What's sad is those people that spend a life time worrying, wondering if their belief is the correct one. Did they interpret Bible correctly? Will they go to heaven or Hell? Those that believe in the Bible won't address the fact that the Bible says more will go to Hell than to Heaven. If that's the case, a lot of those people will be "Christians". Some of them was wrong in how they believed what the Bible said. Some of them believed no matter what they did (OSAS) they had it made. And then those that spend their life worrying about it & end up in Hell anyway. You can't win. 

Hi all,

 

Let me share this with you from Facebook.  A pastor Friend shared this article:

 

No, Brittany Maynard Did Not Commit Suicide

http://time.com/3556775/brittany-maynard-not-suicide/

 

And, he wrote:

 

"It seems disingenuous to force someone to choose between two ways of dying and then turn on them in judgement for picking the least painful of the two options."

 

I agree with my pastor Friend - and I posted my own thoughts:

 

THIS SHOULD MAKE ALL OF US THINK.   I like what this man has written - and I especially like the tag line below the photo: "She didn't choose to die -- she just chose how to die."   That really speaks volumes to me.

 

Anyone who has seen Brittany's interviews in the past month - KNOWS that this beautiful young lady had every reason to live - and every desire to live.  I applaud her strength.

 

My only concern is that in all the interviews and articles, I have seen none that address her spiritual position.  Was she a believer - or was she not?  I pray that she did have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.  But, I cannot say, for I do not know - and nothing I have read or heard has made that clear.

 

But, I pray that she was a believer - for I would love to hug her in heaven and tell her that I understood her decision -- and I am sure the Jesus Christ also understood.  God bless, Bill

 

Food for thought?  I think so.  But, each of us must decide how we will process this situation within our own heart and spiritual understanding.

 

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

 

Bill