Brittany Maynard has released a new video, following her recent bucket list trip to the Grand Canyon. In it she says she is feeling like she can withstand a bit more living, and thus won’t end her life as planned on November 1st. In the video, released on Wednesday evening, the 29-year-old, who is afflicted with an incurable type of brain cancer, said she hopes her family is still proud of her–regardless of her choice.
“If Nov. 2 has come along and I’ve passed, I hope my family is still proud of me and the choices I made,” Maynard says in the video, which was released by Compassion & Choices–the nonprofit working to expand end-of-life options. “And if Nov. 2 comes along and I’m still alive, I know that we’ll just still be moving forward as a family out of love for each other, and that the decision will come later.”
Brittany Maynard and her husband Dan Diaz–along with her mom and stepfather–moved from California to Oregon following her diagnosis because ‘aid-in-dying’ is legal there.
“I still feel good enough and I still have enough joy and I still laugh and smile with my family and friends enough that it doesn’t seem like the right time right now,” she says in the video that was released to CNN. “But it will come, because I feel myself getting sicker. It’s happening each week.”
Brittany Maynard says she will end her own life before terminal brain cancer kills her – but not just yet. http://t.co/xKD5T108Zw
— CNN (@CNN) October 30, 2014
Brittany Maynard’s story spread rapidly on social media after she revealed her plans to take a combination of medications that will end her life. Her first video–explaining her choice–has gotten more than 8.8 million views on YouTube thus far. Maynard has become a prominent spokeswoman for the “death with dignity” movement, which advocates that terminally ill patients be allowed to receive such medications that will let them die on their terms. On the other hand, she has also received lots of criticism for her decision.
Dave Watson is the pastor of Calvary Chapel of Staten Island.
“We believe she’s made in the image of God, we believe that God determined when she would be born and God should determine when she’s going to die,” he told CNN earlier in October. “I certainly sympathize. And when I read the story, I prayed for the woman and her family. I can’t imagine the agony for a decision like this. But I don’t think that necessarily we’re saying the right things about death.”
Should we tamper with what some consider to be God’s will? Or should we support those who wish to die with dignity?
“There but for the grace of God…,” John Bradford said centuries ago.
If we’re fortunate enough to not face such a harrowing ordeal, we should probably not judge–but count our blessings instead.
Brittany Maynard and her family are likely counting theirs–one for every day she remains in their fold.
