On
Sunday, November 2, 2014, two women with brain cancer made decisions that could
change the way we look at cancer.
Brittany
Maynard was a newlywed of about a year when she found out she had cancer in
January, 2014. Nine days after the initial diagnosis she had a partial craniotomy and a partial resection of
her temporal lobe. Both surgeries were attempts to slow the growth of her
tumor. In April, she learned that not only had the tumor returned, it had
become even more aggressive. She was 29 and had six months to live. After a great deal of research and
consultation it was determined that there was little she could do to impede the
ultimate victory that cancer would eventually claim.
Young
and otherwise healthy, the cancer would destroy her brain while the rest of her
body would continue to function. The last months would likely be a horror for
both her and her family. The thought of dying in hospice, suffering daily
seizures and receiving high levels of pain medication was not how she wanted to
live out her life. This is not how she wanted to be remembered.
Brittany
wanted to be in control of her own death. She moved to Oregon, one of five
states that allow for death with dignity. Brittany would receive a prescription
that would end her life and be given the power to administer it when she felt
it was time.
Brittany
became a spokesperson for death with dignity after she posted a video on
youtube explaining her choice. It has received over 10,000,000 views.
On
Sunday, surrounded by friends and family, Brittany decided that it was time to
end her struggle.
Compassion
& Choices, an end-of-life choice advocacy group who had worked closely with
Brittany, said she "died as she intended -- peacefully in her bedroom, in
the arms of her loved ones."
Having
been raised a Catholic, I have always looked upon suicide as a sin. Now that I
have cancer and with an understanding of how I will likely die, I have to say
that I have to wonder if I have been too closed minded. As would have been
Brittany’s, my own death will not be pleasant. Multiple myeloma, when no longer
under control, destroys the bones. It starts with the larger bones and moves to
the smaller ones. Bones become brittle and eventually break. In my own case, I
had 29 areas that had been affected including a tennis ball sized tumor on my
pelvis. My kidneys were shutting down and potassium and sodium were flooding my
blood stream. I was lucky that chemotherapy saved my life.
I
have seen both of my parents die of cancer. It was horrible. I cannot believe
that this is what God wants. We have the technology to keep people alive long
after they should. Sometimes past the point of cruelty. It is not my plan to
end my life when it becomes hopeless, but I can certainly understand why
someone would. Is it really suicide when you are already dying?
On
the other side of the country, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Lauren Hill was having the
best day of her life. Lauren, too, is
dying of brain cancer. There is a good chance she may not see Christmas. But
Sunday, she didn’t think about that. She woke up at four in the morning with a
terrific headache. It was so severe that later that day she would have to wear
sunglasses and headphones to drown out the light and sound. That would not keep
her away from completing a dream, the dream of playing college basketball.
It
was just a little over a year ago that Lauren announced on her birthday that
she would attend Mount St. Joseph’s University and play basketball. Less than
two months later she found out she had brain cancer. In September, she was told
that she had months to live.
The
University then petitioned the NCAA to be able to play their game against Hiram
College two weeks earlier than had been scheduled so Lauren could fulfill her
dream. The game was moved to Cincinnati so her friends could attend. Forty five
minutes after the tickets became available, Cintas Center and its 10,500 seats
was sold out. This was for two teams that normally would have 100 family
members and friends show up for a game.
Hiram
College and its coaches and athletic department were completely on board even
working with the Mount St. Joes coaches to allow Lauren to score on the first
possession of the game. A backdoor screen was run for Lauren so that she could
move to her right which would allow her to shoot with her left hand. Although
right handed, she has been forced to shoot with her left hand as the cancer has
begun to disrupt her body movements. After scoring, time was called and
everyone in the arena celebrated including the Hiram coaches and players.
Lauren
has made it a point to bring attention to the plight of those with pediatric
cancers. Tens of thousands of dollars have been raised for this cause. Lauren
has issued a challenge to Lebron James and others in her own version of the ALS
Ice Bucket Challenge.
Fox Sports Ohio televised the game and it was
streamed nationwide on the internet. After the game an emotional Lauren summed
up what many were thinking, "To reach and touch this many people is
amazing. Not many people knew about DIPG before me, and now that they do, we
can get research going to cure this cancer. I won't be around to see that, but
it's going to help so many people. That's why the support can't end with this
game."
Both of these women have touched millions in
their own way. Hopefully, we will see increases in cancer research so that we
can experience an end to this killer in our lifetimes.
In my own little world things are going well.
I continue to receive good results with my blood tests. I have been in
remission without the help of chemo for 16 months. I never thought I would be
able to say that. Now the goal is to see just how far I can take it. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Light the
Night Walk is this Friday. If you haven’t had an opportunity to donate, please
do. It will be my sixth walk. I hope to be doing this years from now.
