That's sad that she felt that way but not going to pass any judgement. On Feb 16, 2012, at 11:11 AM, [email protected] wrote:
> Some things will not improve, in spite of comments. This is one of them. > Thanks > Best Wishes > > In a message dated 2/16/2012 9:47:44 A.M. Central Standard Time, > [email protected] writes: > From The Huffington Post, another freakin waste of............. > > > > There's an old saying that artists have to suffer, but after six years of > paralysis, Christina Symanski decided she had suffered enough. > > Symanski, 31, broke her neck diving into a shallow swimming pool in June, > 2005. > > An artist and teacher in East Brunswick, N.J., Symanski was rescued by her > boyfriend of six months, professional musician Jimmy Morganti, who, at the > time of the accident, was planning to move in with her. > > The accident left Symanski a quadriplegic. She continued to do her art, but > last fall, she made a decision to starve herself to death. > > "I have come to a point in my own life where I’m struggling with the > question, ‘Is this life worth living for ME, or am I just prolonging my own > suffering?’" is how she explained it on her blog, Life Paralyzed. > > Once she decided to end her life, Symanski researched right-to-die laws, and > even considered moving to Oregon which allows some physician-assisted > suicide, according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger. > > She also began communicating with Jeanne Kerwin, the coordinator for Ethics > and Palliative Care Services at Overlook Medical Center in Summit, who gave > her tips about palliative care and how she could end her suffering. > > Some of Kerwin's suggestions included having two psychological evaluations as > well as consultations with lawyers and physicians. > > "She did everything she could so that the responsibility for whatever > happened was hers alone," Kerwin told the Star-Ledger. > > But not everyone agreed with Symanski's decision, especially her aunt, Mary > Ellen Symanski, the head of the nursing department at Alvernia University in > Reading, Pa. > > "I was not thrilled with the information she was receiving," said Symanski > who privately tried to convince her niece not to end her life. > > But once Symanski decided to die by diet, things moved quickly and she passed > away on December 1. > > Among her last wishes was to have her cremated ashes mixed with fireworks and > then skyrocketed over the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border this Independence > Day. > > "I don’t know whether I can do that legally," said her mother, Louise Ruoff. > "But I’ll try." > > > > > Glenn Henry >
