Brittany Maynard was diagnosed with terminal cancer at the beginning of the year. She feared that the drugs she would need to take to manage her brain tumour would limit her quality of life while her age would allow her body to continue to survive even when the pain may no longer be bearable.
With her husband and her family, she opted to move to Oregon from her home state of California as it allows her to end her own life.
She recently completed a bucket list visit to the Grand Canyon and will celebrate her husband, Dan's birthday today (30 October), before ending her life on Saturday.
She does mention that she will still make that final decision but that she hopes that by sharing her story others will be able to make the choice for themselves too. Not everyone supports her decision and are hoping she decides not to take her life.
I am so lucky to have known the love of an amazing husband (my husband Dan is a hero), a loving, caring mother, and an incredible group of friends and extended family. As my time draws closer, I hope you will all take up my request to carry on this work, and support them as they carry on my legacy. I'm so grateful to you all.
South Africa does not make provision for individuals who would like to choose when they would like to die although the issue was raised after MP Mario Ambrosini died recently after a long battle with lung cancer. (Colin Cullis).