A bed-bound woman diagnosed with a rare disease that causes her muscles to deteriorate is advocating for the legalisation of euthanasia.
Holly Warland, from Queensland, Australia has a rare condition called Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD).
This condition causes gradual deterioration of all muscles from the chin down, leaving its victims unable to move and reliant on full-time care.
Holly Warland (pictured), from Queensland, Australia has a rare condition called Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD)
This condition causes gradual deterioration of all muscles from the chin down, leaving its victims bed-bound and reliant on care (pictures is Ms Warland)
The 27-year-old (pictured) has succeeded in many aspects of her life and has received her Bachelors and Honours in Psychology
Despite being diagnosed at the age of 11, and in-and-out of hospitals for the last four years, Ms Warland had what she describes as a ‘mostly typical life with great support from family and friends’.
The 27-year-old has succeeded in many aspects of her life and has received her Bachelors and Honours in Psychology.
Ms Warland was studying for her doctorate degree when she began to notice her physical strength diminishing, forcing her to give up her studies and university teaching job.
‘Every day I began waking up to waves of nausea, a racing pulse, sore muscles, hyperventilation, and uncontrollable shaking,’ she said.
‘My life was thrown into chaos…as my condition worsened, I found a real lack of true representation of severe disability.
‘I was halfway through my neuroscience Ph.D. specializing in ASD children’s ability to read facial expressions when my MD worsened.’
Ms Warland was studying for her doctorate degree when she began to notice her physical strength diminishing, forcing her to give up her studies and university teaching job
‘My life was thrown into chaos…as my condition worsened, I found a real lack of true representation of severe disability’
Ms Warland’s disease then caused her to question: ‘I’m old enough to vote, drink, drive a car, and have a baby, so why can’t I control when I have a nice peaceful passing?’
Ms Warland’s disease then caused her to question: ‘I’m old enough to vote, drink, drive a car, and have a baby, so why can’t I control when I have a nice peaceful passing?’
She is now an outspoken advocate for Voluntary Assisted Dying in Queensland.
‘The unfortunate reality for me is that this condition will eventually make life unbearable for me and I want a safe and reliant option to end my life when I am ready.
‘I never thought this was an issue I would become so passionate about but when I stopped to think about it, it’s my only humane option. I could wait until I die naturally but that might be decades of more pain and suffering.
‘I work with a group called Dying with Dignity Queensland to convince and work with politicians to pass fair and merciful voluntary assisted dying laws.’
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has ordered an inquiry into end-of-life care, including the issue of voluntary euthanasia.
It is the last state in the country to call a debate on the issue.
Ms Warland (pictured) is now an outspoken advocate for Voluntary Assisted Dying in Queensland
‘I work with a group called Dying with Dignity Queensland to convince and work with politicians to pass fair and merciful voluntary assisted dying laws’
Ms Warland’s partner Luke has been documenting her slow deterioration to show the devastating effects the disability has on the human body.
‘Luke catches me at my best and worst; from fancy dinners to vomiting in the shower, nothing is sugar-coated,’ she said.
‘I wanted to show more of this darker and more honest side to disability.’
Ms Warland’s slow deterioration led to her partner Luke (left) documenting her daily life to show the effects the disability has on the human body
‘Luke catches me at my best and worst; from fancy dinners to vomiting in the shower, nothing is sugar-coated,’ she said (pictured is Luke)
Being bed-bound leaves Ms Warland with limited option on what she can do without Luke’s assistance such as watching TV, snoozing, or reading
Ms Warland insists on keeping a pessimistic view on life despite living with a ‘degenerative condition with no cure in sight’.
She shares various photos of her life before and after MD took over.
‘I can’t be spontaneous anymore, everything has to be planned. People have to work around me and how my body has decided to feel on any given day.’
A GoFundMe page has been organised to help raise money for Muscular Dystrophy Australia which funds a lot of research, and Montrose a charity which helps kids with MD acquire all their day to day help like wheelchairs, physio, rails, and much more.