Woman with very rare disease makes appeal after deciding to die by euthanasia
Warning: This article contains discussion of assisted dying that some readers may find distressing
A woman living with a very rare disease has issued an appeal after deciding to die by euthanasia.
Veterinary student Carolina Arruda, 27, from Brazil, has made the heartbreaking decision to end her life after suffering with a condition called bilateral trigeminal neuralgia.
What is bilateral trigeminal neuralgia?
The NHS explains that trigeminal neuralgia is a rare neurological condition characterised by sudden, severe facial pain.
Those suffering with the disease can be affected either on just one side of the face, or in some cases both.
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In severe cases, attacks may happen hundreds of times a day, with the pain often likened to having electric shocks in the jaw or gums.
'Imagine a pain that makes it impossible to smile'
Arruda, who lives with her 10-year-old daughter and husband, has made the decision to end her life after suffering with the life-long condition.
While she has tried various therapies, operations and medications, none of the procedures have been successful or brought any relief.
Arruda explained that before she suffered with the condition, she was an energetic person with dreams of a career helping animals.
She says the constant, agonising pain has robbed her of her ability to follow her passions.
"Imagine a pain that makes it impossible to speak, smile, eat. It's the simplest things that this pain limits and incapacitates me in a way that I can't describe," Arruda explained to CNN.
"I tried several pharmacological treatments, from conventional medications to more experimental options.
"I invested time, money and an immense amount of energy in the search for anything that could alleviate my pain."
The prospect of traveling to Switzerland
Arruda has tried to take her own life on two different occasions, but has since contacted a charity in Switzerland, Dignitas, where euthanasia is legal.
To make the trip, she will need to raise thousands of pounds and is now crowdfunding for this on Brazilian site, Vakinha.
The mum will need to find $27,000 (£21,000) to cover travel and clinic costs.
"The decision to have euthanasia was the hardest decision and, at the same time, the clearest for me," she said.
"Every day, I tried to find meaning, to find hope, but the pain was always there, without stopping. It's not a lack of love for life or for the people around me, it's simply a cry for compassion, for a dignified end, you know."
You can donate to Arruda's fundraiser here.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.
Topics: Health, World News
Lucy Devine