After getting married, Maynard sought help in January for
increasingly intense headaches. In April she was diagnosed with stage 4
glioblastoma, the deadliest of all brain cancers in a very advanced stage.
Her doctors gave her 6 months to live, and said her death
would be slow and very painful.
"My glioblastoma is going to kill me, and that's out of
my control," she
told People magazine. "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."
After her diagnosis and decision to end her life. Maynard
moved from San Francisco to Oregon, which allows doctors to provide euthanasia
services for the terminally ill. On Monday she plans to launch a publicity
campaign with the nonprofit Compassion & Choices,
explaining her decision and to fight for an expansion of death-with-dignity
laws in the United States.
She chose Nov. 1 so she could celebrate her husband's
birthday on Oct. 30.
When Maynard passes on Nov. 1, she will do so in the bedroom
she shares with her husband. By her side will be her mother, stepfather,
husband and best friend (who is also a physician)
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