Imagine not being able to breathe or walk on your own.
Jerika Bolen is a 14 year old Wisconsin girl living with spinal muscular atrophy or SMA. Spinal muscular atrophy is caused by a defect in the SMN1 gene on chromosome 5. According to curesma.com, spinal muscular atrophy is a disease that robs people of their physical strength by affecting the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord. This means that a person diagnosed with SMA lose he ability to walk, eat, or breathe on their own. In result a person like Jerika is in constant pain.
This story started getting some attention on social media and after 38 long and painful surgeries Jerika decided that she wanted to end her life. There were many things that Jerika thought about before making this final decision, but it all came down to one question. "Am I here for me or am I here for my family?" Jerika can do nothing on her own except lie in bed in pain.
In her interview with Wisconsin WBAY news, Jerika and her mother both agreed that it was time to let go, so starting in August Jerika will stop receiving treatments that keep her alive. Before all of that begins Jerika had one last wish. Her very last wish was one of the days that every girl dreams about at least once, to go to prom. She knew exactly how she wanted it to look and what colors she wanted to wear just like any other teenage girl. Due to the fact that Jerika couldn't get out because of her illness she did not have any friends to invite, so she made the prom open to the public.
On July 22, Jerika Bolen had the prom that she dreamed of with green and black decorations and a beautiful, light green, mermaid style prom dress. The prom lasted five hours at the Grand Meridian ballroom, and the guests showed up and showed out. According to People Magazine hundreds of guests came to the prom including former classmates, police, and firefighters. Even Jerika's favorite YouTube star Richie Giese was there, but the true show stopping guest was Jerika Bolen, herself.
The prom was everything she wished for and more, and Jerika is finally at peace with her decision. At the end of August she will enter hospice and be put on morphine until God decides to call her home.
Deciding to die is not an easy choice at all. Leaving behind everyone you know and love can't be something that you decide overnight. Bolen thought about this decision for years and decided it was finally time. Most people with this disease do not live as long as she has with the excruciating pain. Bolen is someone that I and the people of Wisconsin will remember forever. She is the definition of a true fighter and her story will be told for many years to come.
Some people will not agree with this decision for many reasons but I believe it was the right decision for her. A life full of pain and being bed-ridden is no life at all. She would have never been able to live a normal life like many of us. Imagine not being able to breathe or walk on your own, these are things that we don't think twice about. Jerika's story is just a reminder to me not to take anything for granted because they could have easily been taking away from us.
