Remember Lauren Hill, the college freshman who, diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, decided to devote her life, however long or short it may be, to raising money for children’s cancer research? We posted about her last fall when the media was full of stories about Brittany Maynard and Hill was able to play basketball for her college but was getting only a small amount of media attention. Almost five months after Maynard’s suicide death, Lauren Hill, supposed to be dead by Christmas, is still raising money, from a hospital. Maynard raised money for a short time to promote assisted suicide. Hill is living as long as possible to raise money for life-prolonging treatments that will not benefit her but children who come after her. She knows all medical treatment is only life-prolonging. We will all die. She has accepted that as the fact it is, but she does not believe being terminally ill and disabled by illness means she can’t live intensely and productively. Brittany Maynard was seduced by Compassion and Choices to waste what could have been the most productive days, months or years of her life. We lost her. Lauren Hill is supported by her community, her college and her family in making the best possible use of every day she is given. Lauren Hill is a heroine, and all those helping her live are heroines and heroes. Oh, and by the way, they are all showing us what dying with dignity looks like.
Donate at thecurestartsnow.org
On March 20, Hill appeared on The View. Here’s the video.