Woman choosing to end her own life after cancer diagnosis reveals how she will spend her final hours
A woman with cancer has revealed what she plans for her final hours on Earth before ending her own life.
Roseana Spangler-Sims from California received the devastating diagnosis that she had stage 4 pancreatic cancer almost 18 months ago.
For the past year, the mom-of-one took on an intensive round of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, but a scan revealed that her cancer was continuing to spread.
In June, the 72-year-old decided to take matters into her own hands, telling PEOPLE that she planned on taking a fatal dose of medication on Sunday (August 31) under California's Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) law.
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Before taking the fatal dose, she sat down with the outlet to reveal her plans for her final days on Earth, which included a dose of magic mushrooms.
Roseana spent months planning the final day, giving away all her possessions and preparing to donate her body to scientific research at the University of California, San Diego.
Despite the hefty prep, Roseana said: "I'm ready to go. I'm more at peace than I've ever been."
Rosena moved out of her Vista apartment on August 18 to spend her final two weeks near Palomar Mountain, north of San Diego, with her family, son, Shawn Cisneros, his wife Cindy and Cindy's twin sister, Sandi.
The family took drives together through the forests and have sifted through boxes of photographs and other memories from over the years.
They also threw her 'living wake' which saw dozens of friends and family gather to celebrate her life.
Then on her final day, Roseana revealed exactly what she planned to eat - a light breakfast of papaya and mango, as her stomach can't be full before consuming the fatal dose of medication.
As of 11am, her death doula Melissa McClave arrived to help Roseana and her family through the end-of-life process. Apsilocybin facilitator was also present with a ritual to use the psychedelic drug.
McClave explained the ritual involves a 'smudging ceremony' with sage followed by the administration of a microdose of magic mushrooms.
"It will be closer to Catholic last rites than it would be to going to a Phish concert," she said.
Roseana also said she was looking forward to the ritual, stating it would help her 'bring myself to that peaceful point.'
"And it's also about feeling one with nature," she added.
At 5pm, Roseana said she would take anti-nausea medication to facilitate the MAID medication 'goes in and stays down', a combination of sedatives, narcotics, and white grape juice, which she will take an hour later at around 6pm.
"I want it to go as quickly as possible. I don't want the kids to sit here and look at me half dead for too long. I want to be out," she said.
Roseana planned on taking the solution while in a hospital bed on the decking of the rental home, sitting beside hummingbird feeders and a pine tree overlooking a mountain forest.
"I've never been a fearful person. That just ain't in my DNA," she remarked not long before her passing. "I do get anxious about everything being okay for these guys," she said, gesturing to her family.
McClave said Roseana may have to take a grape popsicle after taking the MAID medication to soothe any burning from the medicine but reassured her family that within a few minutes, she'll experience a 'euphoric feeling' before slipping into a peaceful coma.
"I can't wait to be numb," Roseana added. "I can't wait to make my body just melt away. For months and months it's been constant pain. It will be a relief.
"I feel ready to fade," she continued. "I believe I'm going off to a peaceful plane of existence. It's like going into another dimension. Hopefully I've served the greater good enough that I can get to that peaceful place, what people think of as heaven.
"I don't know if I can communicate with this dimension or not. I'm just looking forward to the adventure. And I want to leave you guys feeling like this is the next thing for me."
Topics: Cancer, California, Drugs, Health
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