Annalise Holland, a 25-year-old Australian woman, suffered from chronic illnesses since childhood, frequently visiting hospitals without a clear cause, until she was diagnosed with a rare condition called autoimmune agranulocytosis (AAG) at age 18. Long-term medication deteriorated her health, leading to bone fractures and putting immense strain on her heart and lungs. After enduring excruciating pain, Annalise finally chose euthanasia, and this was recently approved. She admitted she was “so happy she cried” upon hearing the news of her decision.

Annalise suffered from chronic pain, nausea, and vomiting during urination since childhood. Doctors conducted numerous examinations over the years, but the cause remained unknown. She recalled that during flare-ups, her intestines felt congested, but there were no foreign objects inside. Because her stomach couldn’t digest food properly, the feeding tube was ineffective, and she had to be fed intravenously. While this treatment kept her alive, it also led to multiple bouts of sepsis; she said she “survived 25 bouts of sepsis.”

It wasn’t until she was 18, when she was transferred to an adult hospital, that she was diagnosed with AAG (Acute Adenosine Gland Syndrome). This condition causes the immune system to attack the autonomic ganglia, interfering with many involuntary bodily functions. By age 22, she was told her condition was incurable.

The unbearable pain led her to confess, “I’ve had enough.”

Years of treatment had made Annalise’s bones incredibly brittle, even leading to severe osteoporosis, causing four vertebral fractures and a broken sternum, putting immense pressure on her heart and lungs. She described her life as “waking up every day, undergoing medical procedures, taking painkillers, getting through the day, then going to bed and falling into a deep sleep, only to begin the same cycle the next day.”

Despite the dedicated care from the medical team, she told the doctors she “didn’t want to suffer anymore,” but her decision was difficult for her family to accept. She recalled one night telling her father, “Dad, I’ve had enough.” Her father asked, “So you’re giving up?” It wasn’t until she cried and begged her father to “let me go” after resuscitation that her family truly understood her suffering.

“I am so happy to have been approved for assisted suicide.”

After three weeks of evaluation, Annalise was granted permission to use Australia’s legal “Voluntary Assisted Death” (VAD). Upon hearing the approval, she was so moved that she broke down in tears. “It’s strange, but I’m really so happy,” she said. She admitted that she was torn between grief and peace, feeling relieved on one hand, but heartbroken on the other, thinking about adding to her family’s grief.

Annalise added: “I feel so lucky to at least have this option. Actually, saying ‘I want assisted suicide’ is one of the bravest things you can do in your life. It’s not about giving up, it’s about you’ve really had enough, and you’ve fought it all.”