This 29-year-old explains why she’s choosing to end her own life

Brittany Maynard has just 24 days left to live. The reason she knows this is because she has chosen the date when she will end her own life.

The 29-year-old has Stage 4 glioblastoma – a malignant brain tumour which cannot be removed or cured.

She's chosen November 1st as the day she will voluntarily die using medication prescribed by her doctor. "There is not a cell in my body that is suicidal or that wants to die," she said in a recent interview. "I want to live. I wish there was a cure for my disease but there's not." 

Brittany and her husband Dan married last year, just months before Brittany's diagnosis on January 1st. "Right when I was diagnosed, my husband and I were actively trying for a family, which is heartbreaking for us," said Brittany in the video which explains her decision.

In April, Brittany was given six months to live. "I have to tell you," she said, "when you’re 29 years old, being told you have that kind of timeline still feels like being told you’re going to die tomorrow." 

Brittany then made the decision to move to Portland, Oregon with her family so that she could take advantage of the state's Death With Dignity act which has been in place since 1997. "I can't even tell you the relief it provides me that I don't have to die the way it's been described to me if my brain tumour were to take me on its own," she said.

As her husband's birthday is October 31st, Brittany has chosen to wait until the following day to take the medication, which she already has waiting at home. "I'm getting sicker, dealing with more pain and seizures and difficulties so I just selected it," she said of her choice of date.

By her side when she dies will be her husband, mother, stepfather and her best friend.

Watch Brittany's heart-breaking video below: