Terminally Ill Brittany Maynard Changes Her Mind on Planned Nov. 1 Suicide: 'It Doesn't Seem Like the Right Time'

Brittany Maynard
Brittany Maynard

When Brittany Maynard told the world last month that she was going to end her own life on November 1, she didn't expect the overwhelming outpour of reactions, both good and bad. She also didn't expect to change her mind.

The 29-year-old suffers from terminal brain cancer and was given six months to live back in April. Her initial concern was that she didn't want to suffer at the end of her life through debilitating seizures and the pain that comes with slowly dying from cancer. Her plan was to end it at a designated time, so everyone can remember her while she's still active and feeling good.

"I still feel good enough and I still have enough joy and I still laugh and smile with my family and friends enough that it doesn't seem like the right time right now," she said. "But it will come, because I feel myself getting sicker. It's happening each week."

Related: Joni Eareckson Tada Implores Terminally Ill Brittany Maynard to Reconsider Assisted Suicide 

Earlier this year, Maynard and her husband decided to move from California to Oregon to take advantage of that state's Death With Dignity Act. The 1997 bill allows terminally ill patients to voluntarily end their own lives through the self-administration of lethal medications under supervision of a physician.

But Brittany's change of heart comes at a time when she's still enjoying her life. In fact, she still holds out hope that she may make it through the stage IV glioblastoma multiform cancer. "If all my dreams came true, I would somehow survive this."

In a video released Wednesday, Maynard said that she hasn't made a final decision yet, but wants to prepare her family and friends either way.

"It sounds so cliche, we take things one day at a time, but that's the only way to get through this," Brittany's husband, Dan, comments in the video.

Maynard completed the last item on her bucket list last week: a trip to the Grand Canyon. She says she enjoys taking walks with her husband and her dogs to help giver her "the greatest feelings of health" she has these days.

Since Maynard first announced her plans to end her life, her story has gone viral and she has worked with several life-rights groups, including Compassion & Choices and her own Brittany Maynard Fund.

Maynard still worries that her condition may progress too quickly and she won't be able to plan a peaceful end again, especially after a string of seizures just last week brought her to the hospital and caused her to forget her husband's name momentarily.

Brittany plans her death to happen in her bedroom, surrounded by her husband, mother, step-father, and best friend, but a date has not been set.

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.