Brittany Maynard plans to end her own life on Nov. 1, but wants people to know that it is not a suicide. "There is not a cell in my body that is suicidal or that wants to die," Maynard told People Magazine. "I want to live. I wish there was a cure for my disease but there's not."
Maynard was diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma, a brain cancer.
"My glioblastoma is going to kill me, and that's out of my control," she told People."I've discussed with many experts how I would die from it, and it's a terrible, terrible way to die. Being able to choose to go with dignity is less terrifying."
Maynard plans to use prescription medication given to her by her doctor. Maynard and her family moved with her from San Francisco, Calif. to Portland, Ore. earlier this year so she could take advantage of the Death with Dignity Act. "The amount of sacrifice and change my family had to go through in order to get me to legal access to death with dignity - changing our residency, establishing a team of doctors, having a place to live - was profound," Maynard told People.
"There's tons of Americans who don't have time or the ability or finances and I don't think that's right or fair."
Maynard started having serious headaches last January after her wedding. After surgery three months later, Maynard was told the tumor had grown and she had six months to live at most.
After a few seizures, falls, hospital visits and increased pain, Maynard told People that she knows she made the right decision. She chose Nov. 1, two days after her husband's birthday.
"I really wanted to celebrate my husband's birthday, which is October 30, Maynard told People. "I'm getting sicker, dealing with more pain and seizures and difficulties so I just selected it."
Maynard plans to spend her last moments in the bedroom she shared with her husband. Her mother, stepfather, husband and best friend (who, according to People, is a doctor) will be by her side.
