Marieke Vervoort: Paralympic Supporting Euthanasia

After she was diagnosed with osteoarthritis at a young age, doctors recommended Marieke Vervoort to continue her active lifestyle. She found an excellent reason to continue her life by practicing sports.

At the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, she won three Olympic medals.

Although she makes it clear that it is not yet time for her, Marieke Vervoort knows perfectly well that when the time is right, she wants to leave on her own terms. Therefore, he supports the euthanasia movement.

Marieke Vervoort has always been a warrior. This 37-year-old Belgian athlete prepared documents about her own euthanasia as early as 2008.

Although she makes it clear that it is not yet time for her, Marieke knows perfectly well that when the time is right, she wants to leave on her own terms.

We all know perfectly well that we do not have full control over what life brings us. Illnesses, accidents, unexpected events… all these challenges shape us and test our strength of character.

We cannot choose what will surprise us in the future, but sometimes we can choose how and when to end it.

Marieke Vervoort has once again sparked the discussion on euthanasia and also spread the false rumor that she intends to say goodbye to this world as soon as the Paralympic Games are over. Of course, this was not true. It is not yet the time for her, but her wise, reasonable and bold words have delighted the whole world.

Whether or not we agree with the idea of ​​euthanasia, we can all agree on one point: this wonderful woman deserves our full respect and absolute admiration.

Today we would like to present its history.

Marieke Vervoort’s last start

Marieke Vervoort walks through life with the intensity of someone who wants to squeeze everything out of him: every new day, every image, every sound, every breath of fresh air.

She participates in track and field competitions, practices land sailing and was even a triathlete before the disease deprived her of her mobility.

It is worth noting that although she won a silver medal at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, this is just one of the many trophies she has won:

• Marieke participated in the 2012 London Paralympic Games, where she won two medals, one silver and one gold.

• She has also won awards and distinctions at many events in her home country. According to her, the award that caused her the most pride and satisfaction is the award received from
• The Flamenco Sports Writers Association , which fully appreciates her strength, character and sets her as an excellent example for others.

According to Marieke, it was her last start at the Paralympic Games.

Degenerative disease

Marieke Vervoort suffers from a degenerative muscle disease which forced her to use a wheelchair at a very young age. However, the real problem is not the disability itself, but the physical suffering it has to deal with each day.

Marieke has been battling her disease every day for 20 years. She can clearly see how her own body is becoming more and more impaired every year.

She faints from time to time, she also has regular epileptic seizures, experiences severe pain, and is aware of the fact that within a few years she will become completely blind. Already Marieke Vervoort sees only 20%.

In a matter of months or years, it will be completely overcome by darkness. Due to this chronic disease, she was sentenced to life as a permanent disability.

Euthanasia

Marieke Vervoort knew perfectly well from a young age how her adult life would turn out. She once confessed that immediately after being diagnosed with the disease, she even considered suicide for a while. However, something happened that changed her approach to life.

Her doctor told her one day that a great way to make sure you get the most out of your remaining time would be to lead an active lifestyle. Sport means fighting and overcoming difficulties. Marieke was passionate about this idea and found in it a strong argument to continue living.

Marieke Vervoort started playing basketball in a wheelchair and later began practicing diving and swimming. But she really found her calling by participating in a triathlon competition. It won first place and gained recognition all over the world.

She won the paratriathlon world champion title in 2006, a distinction she held for two years in a row.

In 2008, however, she was no longer able to participate in paratriathlon competitions due to progressive disease. Her life came to a standstill.

However, her country extended a helping hand to her and asked her to tell her life story. So Marieke appeared on a TV show for this purpose.

Another challenge for Marieke Vervoort was the publication of her own book, Sport for Life . At the same time, she was also working on another task that was important to her: the preparation of documentation necessary for legal euthanasia.

Her body no longer allows the sport she loved so much. And she herself realizes that in a few years her body and eyesight will be gone forever.

Her time has not come yet, but it is only a matter of time.

As Marieke’s health forced her to give up the triathlon, she switched to another sport called land sailing.

This sport is about racing a special type of vehicle powered by the wind, via a sail. Marieke Vervoort took second place in the 2011 National Land Sailing Championship.

Following this success, she focused on another area: competition between disabled athletes in wheelchairs. After qualifying her to the T-2 category, Marieke dominated this field of sport, breaking all European and world records.

Her successes at the 2012 London Olympics encouraged her to continue to compete actively. She still has plenty to live in, despite the pain she has to deal with every day.

Her pain is so severe that it only allows her to sleep for short periods of up to 10 minutes.
Every day, seizures of epilepsy become more intense.

Marieke is well aware that her time is slowly but surely coming to an end. In the meantime, however, he says he intends to keep enjoying life as much as he can and for as long as he can.

When she is completely darkened by the loss of vision, when she has nothing more than pain and 100% paralysis, when her body is no longer hers, Marieke Vervoort wants to say goodbye to this world.

Euthanasia does not mean surrender, but rest for the most courageous of people. Marieke has even planned her funeral. She wants her ashes scattered by the sea in the Canary Islands area of ​​Lanzarote.

Marieke Vervoort wants to be remembered by everyone and associated with a smile. In this way, she will be able to see everything while resting calmly and without suffering.