20-year-old gives up six transplants and chooses assisted death
2 min readEric Kollamthe 20-year-old who would need six transplants, decided to plan his death with help New York Post.
He, who lives in British Columbia, in CanadaHe was diagnosed with liver and kidney disease and had an unknown gastrointestinal condition. The young man underwent several treatments for a decade.
To explain his decision to family and friends, Coulam held a “goodbye barbecue” and said it would be “the end of suffering.” He said, “I suffer all day. I’ve been locked in a room for a long time and I’m tired.” CJDC-TV.
“Sometimes I lie in bed at night and feel sad. Most of the time I hope our day will be better because I’m in so much pain all the time,” he said. “I take a lot of medication just to feel good for a few hours,” he added.
The young man suffered most of his life from severe abdominal pain and chronic pain, suffered from infections and even lost his small intestine. He was also in a coma for a while when he developed septic shock.
Coulam was told that his only chance of survival was to undergo a six-organ transplant, and even then, the chances of recovery would be 50%.
He still doesn’t have a date when he intends to end his life, but says it will be when he can fulfill some desires and see some people. “I can go when I’m ready. Not when I’m really sick or when they take my medication or anything like that. It’s when I’m ready.”
The youngster will benefit from the 2016 Canadian law that allows eligible Canadians over the age of 18 to obtain medical assistance for death. The patient must have a “severe and incurable illness or disability” and also have physical or psychological pain that cannot be controlled by medication.
After the decision, the friends decided to raise money to help him complete his wish list. On the Go Found Me page, they hope to raise $25,000.
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