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Young Woman's Rare Illness Pushes Her to Euthanasia
29 Nov
Summary
- Annaliese Holland, 25, suffers from a rare autoimmune disorder.
- The disorder caused multi-organ failure and severe pain.
- She was approved for voluntary assisted dying in South Australia.
At 25, Annaliese Holland from South Australia is battling a rare autoimmune disorder, Autoimmune Autonomic Ganglionopathy, diagnosed at 18. This condition has subjected her to unrelenting pain, daily nausea, vomiting, and multi-organ failure, with 25 prior sepsis survival instances.
Years of medication have led to severe osteoporosis, spinal fractures, and bone tissue death, causing her teeth to fall out. She has relied on intravenous nutrition for a decade due to her stomach not emptying. The constant physical ordeal has severely impacted her mental health.
Holland has been approved for voluntary assisted dying (VAD) in South Australia, a decision that has brought her a sense of peace. While euthanasia is illegal, VAD and Medical Aid in Dying are legal options for terminally ill adults in parts of Australia. This choice offers her relief from the anxiety of constant pain and the threat of sepsis.
