Many pro-life activists are grieving the loss of Brittany Maynard, the terminally ill patient who took her own life over the weekend. After suffering from severe headaches, Maynard found out she had stage II glioblastoma multiforme and had up to ten years to live.
However, after she had surgery, doctors found out that she had the most deadly form of brain cancer, stage IV glioblastoma multiforme. The cancer usually kills its victims in a matter of months.
After her diagnosis, Brittany decided that she wanted to move from her California home to Oregon so that she could have access to the “death with dignity” prescription. She died on Sunday, November 2 after taking a lethal dose of Phenobarbital.
As LifeNews previously reported, Brittany’s decision to die is a loss for all of humanity because life is valuable, no matter what. Before her premature death, countless people asked her to reconsider. And some of the most powerful pleas came from people with terminal cancer; even her exact same disease.
The greatest tragedy in Brittany’s death is that she gave up all hope for a different outcome. She didn’t consider the gracious words of Joni Earckson Tada or Kara Tippetts who begged her to try and see the consequences of ending her own life. She didn’t change her mind even though many terminal cancer patients have miraculously survived their diagnosis and lived far longer than expected. Ultimately, she didn’t give hope a chance.
Now, another person has come forward and publicized their battle with terminal brain cancer. But instead of taking his own life, David Williams has embraced his disease as a blessing.
A terminally ill woman from Oregon chose to end her life following the “Death with Dignity Act” after finding out she had a progressive brain tumor called glioblastoma multiforme. Brittany Maynard died this weekend after expressing her desire to end her life on her own terms.
A Region 8 man has taken a much different approach. He has the same form of brain cancer. He has lived with it for thirteen years. Doctors told him, “it was glioblastoma, and four doctors came in and said Mr. Williams, we are sorry. You’ve only got 6 months to a year to live.”
Thirteen years later, David Williams is still alive. He said he trusted his doctors, but couldn’t believe he would die. He had two brain surgeries and undergoes chemotherapy. He takes 3,000 milligrams of medication a day and hasn’t given up his fight.
Williams said, “We look at things that happen as bad, when we can actually look at them as a blessing. I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing without the cancer.”
Since he can no longer work, he spends time counseling others.
Click here to sign up for daily pro-life news alerts from LifeNews.com
“I’m going to make it through it. You can make it through what you’re going through too,” he tells them.
After all he has been through, Williams credits his life to one thing.
“There’s nothing else I could think of that I could even start to give credit to except for my faith in God,” said Williams.
He also sees the disease as a blessing.
“I was thinking what is going on? I’ve tried to do good, but then I found out why…Without me going through what I’ve gone through, I don’t think I would be able to reach people the way I reach people,” Williams explained.
It’s at his church, in Newport where he finds support and strength. He wishes Brittany Maynard had chosen life.
“That’s a life you’re taking, that life that can mean something,” said Williams.
He wants to send people a message of hope.
Learn more about David’s survival in the news video below.
