About two months ago, I was horrified because one of my patients in another country was discovered to have been contacting an institution in Switzerland in order to inquire about euthanasia. 

Until now, I had no idea that it was legal in that country. Her family was keeping close watch on her to make sure she was safe. She said she no longer wanted to live in this pain and that there was no hope. She has IC and two other problems simultaneously.

Understandably, her road has been particularly difficult, as many patients having IC have experienced. And, this treatment is not easy under the best of circumstances and sometimes, it can be particularly difficult, as it has been with her case.

However, now two months later, all of these problems she has been having are slowly starting to be chipped away at and the possibility of relief is revealing itself. She is actually starting to improve on all three fronts of her symptoms.

How tragic it would have been had she been successful in her efforts to go to Switzerland!

I am not taking a stand on euthanasia or saying that I dont agree with having the option to take your own life. And, I am certainly not judging anyone for wanting to do so when in great pain. But, my point is that life is often a struggle through sets of circumstances that are incredibly difficult to get through. And, if not for the struggle, there can be no success.

The battle towards fighting this condition requires a strength and conviction inside to find one’s healthy balance in all aspects of life. And cutting life short is not the answer. Finding hope-is.