Courageous ‘pinky promise’ to best friend

Courageous ‘pinky promise’ to best friend

Terminally ill Annaliese Holland is walking the City to Bay in memory of best friend Lily Thai – who this year passed away as part of the voluntary assisted dying program.
Ms Holland is to undergo high-risk surgery on Thursday to correct scoliosis caused by the treatment she receives for her terminal illness, known as auto-immune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG).
“My back is starting to squash my lungs … I can’t really catch my breath,” said Ms Holland, who also suffers from osteoporosis.
“The pain … I am screaming in the early hours of the morning… it’s just so hurtful, all you can do is scream, it’s horrific.”
Doctors said that without the surgery, within three months Ms Holland’s spine would be inoperable and would bend until her lungs and heart crushed. She’s walking 3km not only to raise awareness and funds for the Hospital Research Foundation but also because she made a “pinky promise” to her best friend, Lily, that she would create a legacy for her.
Ms Thai was just 23 when she underwent voluntary assisted dying on June 21 after her own struggle with AAG. Ms Holland and Ms Thai connected through their mutual health diagnoses, so much so that Ms Holland was asked to be one of only six people allowed in the room when Ms Thai was administered the IV medication that terminated her life within 10 seconds.
“I never thought about it before watching it happen … it was very peaceful, very, very, very peaceful,” Ms Holland said.
“Having a similar illness, it’s good to know that’s always there and it is legal now.
“It’s such a nice way to go when you’re ready and you don’t have to deteriorate.”
Ms Holland’s mum, Armanda, said those with AAG tend to “starve to death”.
“My disease, the cruellest part about it is when you loss your nutrition line you basically pass away from malnutrition,” Ms Holland explained.
“That is a very, very long, slow, prolonged, horrible suffering.”
Ms Holland will be pinning a lily to her Bay Walk outfit in memory of her friend, whom still she longs to text when times are tough.
“When I watched her … when it (Lily’s death) was happening, what is horrible is … she’s the same age as me, she has the same illness as me, she was lying in a bed I’ve been in before in the hospice so it was quite confronting for me,” Ms Holland said.
“I promised Lil that I will make sure people knew what we’re going through.”
She hopes to push through the walk to thank the “incredible” medics who have put their lives on hold to care for her.

Written by Evangeline Polymeneas – Sunday Mail