My neighbor's uncle committed suicide recently via shotgun under his chin. He had gone to the hospital that day, and he had heart problems, blockages and such, and had only 15% function of his heart left in use. He went home, his daughter had to literally carry him in the house--that's how weak and in excruciating pain he was, couldn't hardly walk, could barely even breathe.. He told his wife "I can't go on like this any more. I can't take the pain," then he went into the bathroom with his shotgun, sat on the toilet, and shot a bullet into his brain. At his doctor's visit, he had been told the end was near and it would be excruciatingly and increasingly painful.
There is a certain limit on the amount of physical and emotional pain that we can handle. I believe there comes a point where both the person's mind AND body just pretty much turn off from the pain, and that's when their decision to end their life comes in. I know to an extent how awful it feels to have to struggle for every breath, and how agonizing even just walking can be when you're in such wicked pain.
I do NOT believe that God doesn't give us more than we can handle. If we COULD handle whatever he gives us, there wouldnt be so many suicides!! In the case of this woman Brittany Maynard, she had just received news that she had (inoperable) cancer. Having received this same news myself of a cancer diagnosis, I can attest to the fact that when someone says "you have cancer," it REALLY plays with your mind and your emotions!! Every possible scenario runs through your mind, and it drives you crazy wondering "what if". I don't condone suicide, BUT I know if I was faced with an excruciating end, or a quick painless death, I just might choose quick and painless. What I can bear in pain and suffering, just might be different for someone else with the same diagnosis. Maybe they aren't as strong mentally or physically. We cannot judge Brittany for what she did--only God can do that.
