Marta Sepúlveda: the last hours of the woman who will accede to euthanasia in Colombia | “My mom has been calm and happy since they told her she could die,” her son said

In a few hours, a procedure of euthanasia that touches the world. Marta Sepúlveda, a 51-year-old Colombian woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, died Sunday morning. Her case attracted attention, since in Colombia (where euthanasia has been authorized since 2015), the Justice has extended the scope to people who, like her, are not going through a terminal phase.

Colombia’s Constitutional Court extended access in July to those suffering “from severe physical or mental suffering, resulting from bodily injury or serious and incurable illness.” On the 27th, Sepúlveda submitted his request, which was accepted on August 6th. The woman, a fervent Catholic, chose to die on a Sunday. His death will take place at 7:30 a.m. (Bogotá time) this Sunday.

Your son’s testimony

“My mom has been calm and happy since they told her she could die because his life was literally hell. He will die on Sunday at 7 am and he is happy, ”said Federico, his only son. Before her mother, 157 people were euthanized, but they were all terminal cases.

“I see it as the greatest act of love I have ever done in my life, because I need my mother, I want her with me, in any condition, but I know he doesn’t live anymore, he survives “said the young man, who discussed the decision with his mother. “Now I try to make her happy, to make her laugh, to have a good time,” he added. Him and the once The Sepúlveda brothers support the decision.

“She did not conceive of bedridden life. The end of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is without being able to speak, without being able to swallow, it is something extremely painful and unworthy for her,” said Federico, who said her mother started to lose strength in her legs earlier this year and needed support to walk, including using the bathroom.

“One day he said to me, ‘It would be so good if I could ask for euthanasia.’ I didn’t take it very seriously at first. But when he told me firmly that he wanted to do it, I was in denial for a few days. I would say, ‘Mom, please, no,’ ”recalls Sepúlveda’s son.

“My mother is going to die on Sunday at 7 am. And she is happy. She is happy since she knows that they are going to carry out the euthanasia procedure. Sunday, there will be a cremation, a Eucharist will be celebrated and … and that’s all, because deep down that’s what he wants. I will miss her very much. I believe there is nothing that I will not miss, because nothing will ever be the same again. All”.