Glen Campbell and Brittany Maynard Face Their Mortality Very Differently

The first was about Brittany Maynard, a 29-year-old woman with brain cancer who moved from California to Oregon to gain access to legal suicide-inducing drugs. She is planning to die in bed, surrounded by her family, on Nov. 1 (the solemnity of All Saints), two days after her husband’s birthday.

The second story was about the singer Glen Campbell, who decided to go public with his struggle against Alzheimer’s disease. With his children on stage with him for a final, 151-stop musical tour, and the cameras rolling for a ground-breaking documentary, Campbell said: “I ain’t done yet. Tell ’em that.”

Maynard is fighting, through a foundation set up in her name, to expand the right to die beyond the five states that now allow it.

Campbell is allowing himself to be seen in all his vulnerability to show those suffering with Alzheimer’s — some 44 million people worldwide — and all those who will be diagnosed in the future, that, as St. John Paul said, “Life is always a good.”

Our reactions to these stories show that, as usual, we Americans seem to have a split personality. We applaud Campbell for his courage in refusing to go quietly into that good night, and yet many of us also support Maynard’s desire to “die with dignity.”

I have watched people close to me die, and, with the rest of the world, I watched St. John Paul suffer with the debilitating and ultimately fatal effects of Parkinson’s disease. It was heartbreaking, and while I prayed for a miracle for all of them, I also prayed that each would have a peaceful death.

I also prayed that each would have a peaceful death.

The power of prayer!!! How many times here on FR have we been asked to pray for someone's loved one! Our prayers waft heavenward.. pleas for a miracle or to spare someone's life. Sometimes, the response is not the one we sought.

As a member of our parish's Sanctity of Life Committee, I am always attuned to the cycle of life in our small parish. One of our parishioners is preparing to deliver her 5th child, today or tomorrow. This young, Lebanese woman exudes strong faith. The journey, however, did not begin well. Her first child was born with multiple birth defects. Over the span of 9 months, the family went to extraordinary means to save their son's life. After multiple surgeries, they were sent to Boston Children's Hospital where a team of highly recognized surgeons applied all of their skills to salvage the child's life. After 14 hours of surgery, they explained to the family that nothing could be done to resolve the problem. Our pastor drove to Boston to be with them in their time of need. The child was placed in his mother's arms, the life support was disconnected and he died peacefully in the loving embrace of his mother, surrounded by his family. This family never lost faith! Supported by the prayers of a parish family, they brought forth another son, then a daughter, yet another son and are now on the verge of welcoming a 2nd daughter. I recall a visit from our bishop during this young woman's last pregnancy. He shook her hand, blessed her forehead and asked about her children. I will never forget her words: "I have two living children, one in the womb and one in the tomb".

On Friday, October 17, a group of us went to visit another parishioner who was suffering from cancer. He had gone through a lengthy round of chemotherapy earlier in the week that left him weakened. His wife, a Jordanian woman of strong faith, served us coffee. We brought our friend a gift, along with a mass card for his upcoming birthday and some donuts. Despite his weakened state, his mind remained sharp as a tack, interjecting humor into our discussions. He so enjoyed the visit that time slipped for all of us before I realized that nearly 3 hours had passed. We left him in good spirits with a promise to return the following week. The following day, our pastor sent out an email announcing that our friend had passed away. "After a long battle with cancer, cherished parishioner, JM, wen to the Lord peacefully, while his wife recited the rosary. He leaves behind his wife and 9 year old daughter. It still came as a shock. The funeral was held last Wednesday, on his birthday which also happened to be the feast day of St. John Paul II.

The Power of Prayer!

This is a very sad story, but I salute her decision to not subject herself and her family to the agony of dying painfully and wasting away to a shriveled shadow of her former self. She has discussed this with her family and made this difficult decision. I’ve seen some friends and family members die from the ravages of cancer and other diseases, and it’s no intention of mine to go that way.
Those who judge her decision might want to consider that she may indeed be accepting God’s plan for her. Her only wish is that she and her family are spared some of the suffering that goes with it.

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