The testimony of a son who helped his mother to have “a dignified death” in Colombia

This note was updated after knowing this Saturday, January 8, the application of the euthanasia procedure.

Martha Sepulveda He planned to end his life on Sunday, October 10 at 7 in the morning.

LOOK: Martha Sepúlveda died by euthanasia in Colombia

She was seen laughing in front of the cameras eating patacón with guacamole and drinking beer in a Medellín restaurant, even though she was facing death.

He was happy precisely because he managed to get the justice to give him authorization to undergo a euthanasia.

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However, the procedure was canceled at the last minute, as reported in a statement on October 8 by the Colombian Pain Institute, the clinical center where it was to be performed.

According to the statement, the Interdisciplinary Scientific Committee for the Right to Die with Dignity “It unanimously concluded to cancel the procedure” when determining that “the termination criterion is not met as had been considered in the first committee” that evaluated his case.

Three months later, Martha’s wish has been fulfilled. After a long journey that included a legal battle, this Saturday, January 8, he managed to be euthanized.

In Colombia Euthanasia It was decriminalized in 1997, but only became law in 2015. Since then, 157 procedures have been performed.

But last July, the country’s Constitutional Court extended the right to a dignified death to those who suffer “intense physical or mental suffering” due to an injury or incurable illness.

And that of Martha Sepúlveda was the first case in which euthanasia was authorized in a patient who does not have a terminal illness.

Martha Sepúlveda celebrated her 51 years of life in January. (Martha Sepúlveda).

Since she was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a serious and incurable disease, her life had been turned into torment.

How did you know that yours was going to be a slow and painful death spanning several years, the future seemed heartbreaking.

Until one day he told Federico, his only 22-year-old son, that he wanted to fight for his euthanasia. And at first he succeeded.

Paradoxically, getting death brought him back to life.

“My mother is calm and happy since they told her that she could die because her life was literally hell,” her son told BBC Mundo before the last minute cancellation is known.

“I have good luck,” said Martha Sepúlveda in her last television interview with Caracol TV. “I laugh more, I sleep calmer.”

“I am a Catholic person, I consider myself a very, very believer. But God does not want to see me suffer “.

“With lateral sclerosis in the state that I have it, the best thing that can happen to me is that I go to rest.”

This is the testimony of his son, Federico Redondo Sepúlveda, told to BBC Mundo in the first person on last Thursday, October 7.

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My mom was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in late 2018.

She took it in a rather particular way. His reaction was to laugh. He said “see, I have this disease and I will die in three years”. But he said it in a very funny way, very funny, making jokes.

My mom has always been a very open person to death. She has always said “I’m not afraid to leave, but to the way I’m going to leave”, Which is precisely why he sought to be recognized the right to a dignified death.

LOOK: Martha Sepúlveda, the first person without a terminal illness to receive euthanasia in Colombia

(Photo: Martha Sepúlveda) (Martha Sepúlveda /)

She did not conceive of bedridden life. The end of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is unable to speak, unable to swallow … it is something extremely painful and unworthy for her.

The diagnosis was taken very olympically. Later, he began to lose strength in his legs, requiring support to walk more or less long distances. Later I required support for all types of walks even inside the house.

And earlier this year she began to require support to go to the bathroom. Afterwards, you had to bathe her, you had to dress her. Sometimes eating or brushing was difficult because her hands were losing too much strength.

The worst thing for her is seeing how she deteriorated to the point that she cannot be independent for the most basic of daily activities.

One day she told me: “It would be so nice if I could request euthanasia”. And so I did not take it very seriously.

But when he told me he wanted to do it, I was in denial for a few days. I was saying, “no, not my mom, not yet”. Was saying, “mommy please no”.

LOOK: French activist Alain Cocq dies after resorting to euthanasia in Switzerland

Martha and her son Federico. (Photo: Martha Sepúlveda) (Martha Sepúlveda /)

I consider myself a very liberal person, I thought that the right to euthanasia is a right that must be protected, but I never saw it as something close.

But then later, becoming a little aware of the precarious condition in which she was, and of her despair, and of the indignity in which she was, I said: “I think I show my love more if I support her in this decision that she made”.

I do need my mother and I want her to be with me in any condition. But in that case I would only be thinking about myself, about my needs.

We have been together for 22 years. My life revolved around her and hers around me. After your departure, I will have to invent another life. That’s why it was so difficult at first.

When I took care of her, she had mixed feelings. On the one hand I liked it, because I felt that I was giving my mother back, in some way, all the support and everything she has done for me throughout my life.

But I was also thinking about what she was saying to me. He told me: “Son, this is not life, this is not worthy”.

LOOK: The Chilean Congress takes historic step towards the decriminalization of euthanasia

(Photo: Martha Sepúlveda) (Martha Sepúlveda /)

Clearly I am sad. I’m clearly anxious, clearly I’m … desperate in some way. It would be very strange if it was not.

But I am also somewhat comforted by the fact that my mom was able to end her life the way she wanted.

The day and time that she wanted.

From a young age she said that she never wanted to be bedridden, absolutely dependent at all times.

We agree that to live is to decide And since sclerosis began to physically condition my mother, she can no longer decide for herself.

Many people are surprised because they see her very calm and very happy.

(Photo: Martha Sepúlveda) (Martha Sepúlveda /)

My mom is calm and happy since they told her she could die, because her life was literally hell. She was not like that before. Before I was desperate, sad and with little hope for the future.

But now, my mom is going to die on Sunday at 7 in the morning. And is happy. He is happy since he knows that the euthanasia procedure is going to be applied to him.

On Sunday there will be a cremation, a Eucharist will be celebrated and … and that’s it, because basically that is what he wants.

I’m going to miss her a lot. I believe that there is nothing that I will not miss, because nothing will ever be the same. Any.

From his smile and his cockerel and his good attitude to the good and bad in life … to his scolding.

I will need everything.

*The conversation with Federico, son of Martha Sepúlveda, occurred on Thursday, October 7, before the decision of the Interdisciplinary Scientific Committee for the Right to Die with Dignity to cancel euthanasia was known..

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