Debbie Purdy: RIP

Right To Die, Campaigner,
Debbie Purdy.

You know, dreams are funny things.

I’ve gone to bed just recently, wondering if I’d wake up in the morning: and reading or hearing news that right to die campaigner, writer, broadcaster and my favourite novelist, Sir Terry Pratchett, had finally died.

He’s campaigned for years for the right to an assisted death: as a result of succumbing to a form of early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease.

Something I know I’m still unsure about.

I’d seen the disease kill a much loved grandmother, many years ago: so hearing he’d contracted a version wasn’t a good thing.

Either way … ?

Either way, I’d followed the various news items about various right to die campaigners assorted battles: including those of MS sufferer, Debbie Purdy.

Sadly, my late night dream, thought, premonition, call it what you will, came true …

For a given value of true.

~≈®≈~

Debbi had first come to my attention, via the BBC news service.

She’d battled to get clarification from the various courts: to make sure that, should she choose to die, then her husband would not be prosecuted, should he help her.

She won that battle.

New, clarified, guidelines were publish in 2010.

Sadly, though … ?

Sadly, Debbie’s husband, Omar Puente, is a widower, today.

As Mrs Purdy died in the Marie Curie Hospice she’d been in, since at least 2013.

~≈®≈~

I, personally … ?

I have mixed feelings, here.

Death scares me: and has done for a while.

I’m very aware that, as I am, today, I do not want to die.

My life doesn’t amount to much: but I’m enjoying it, and would rather it did end after a VERY long time.

And not by my own hand.

I have no idea what I would do, were I in Debbie Purdy’s shoes.

I really don’t.

Right now, though … ?

Right now, though, all I can do is offer my condolences to her family.

And make the minor point that she died at her own hand.

In the way she wanted.

Can any of us ask differently … ?