25-Year-Old Australian Woman Chooses Voluntary Assisted Dying After Decade-Long Battle With Rare Neurological Disease

At merely 22 years old, Annaliese was informed that her condition had become terminal.

Annaliese Holland from Adelaide, South Australia, has made the profound decision to end her life through voluntary assisted dying following years of suffering from a rare, incurable neurological disorder. She was diagnosed at age 18 with Autoimmune Autonomic Ganglionopathy (AAG), a terminal condition where the immune system attacks nerves controlling essential bodily functions including heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion.

Her childhood was largely spent in hospital environments, with medical professionals unable to identify the cause of her illness. Her condition progressively deteriorated, resulting in persistent pain, nausea, and daily vomiting episodes. For the past ten years, she has been completely dependent on total parenteral nutrition (TPN), receiving all her nutritional requirements intravenously.

"My bowel behaves as if it's obstructed when there's actually no blockage. The nerves simply don't function properly, so my stools would accumulate to the point that I would either vomit them or need to drain my stomach," she explained to news.com.au.

"I had feeding tubes inserted but continued vomiting, then we discovered my stomach wasn't emptying, which led to TPN. With a direct line into your bloodstream, infections can rapidly develop into sepsis, which is extremely dangerous," she further elaborated.

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"Had Enough"

Annaliese's condition has resulted in multi-organ failure, a fractured spine, split sternum, and numerous other severe complications. She experiences daily anxiety about her pain and the possibility of "starving to death" when her body can no longer accept intravenous feeding. Remarkably, she has survived sepsis 25 times. After enduring extensive treatments and countless hospital stays, Holland decided she has "had enough" and initiated the process for voluntary assisted dying (VAD).

"I was utterly miserable. When something can't be changed, you simply have to cope with it. Despite experiencing beautiful moments throughout my days, they are exhausting and seemingly endless. I live with chronic, debilitating pain," she shared.

"I missed important milestones—formals, graduations, my 18th and 21st birthdays—all spent in hospitals while severely ill. My friends are experiencing life events like having babies, getting engaged, and married. Everyone's life continues progressing while I remain stuck. I'm not living—I'm merely surviving each day, which is incredibly difficult," she added.

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"Voluntary assisted dying" in Australia

Three weeks after consulting with psychologists and completing necessary assessments, Annaliese received approval for voluntary assisted dying. She considers this approval a "safety blanket" and source of peace, providing her with choice and control over her final moments. She characterizes her decision not as "giving up," but as a courageous choice following a prolonged battle.

Voluntary assisted dying, also referred to as medical aid in dying (MAID), is now legal throughout all Australian states for terminally ill, mentally competent adults. Unlike euthanasia, which remains prohibited, VAD and MAID involve patients self-administering prescribed medication to peacefully end their lives, rather than having physicians perform the act.

Heartbreak for Family

Annaliese deeply understands the profound emotional struggle her father Patrick, mother Armanda, and sister Vickie face because of her decision. Her mother acknowledges that while she continues hoping for a miracle, she also comprehends the difficult reality her daughter endures.

Meanwhile, her father still struggles to accept her decision, with the emotional impact weighing heavily on the entire family. She recounted how her father remained by her side through her most challenging moments—lying beside her in the hospital bed, helping clean her, administering pain medication when she couldn't, providing comfort through hugs, wiping away her tears, and holding her hand during sleepless nights.

Annie also recalled a late-night kitchen conversation where she told her father she had reached her limit. When he asked if she was giving up, she clarified it wasn't about surrendering—she had simply had enough.

For Patrick, a pivotal moment in accepting her decision came after a critical hospital visit when doctors had to resuscitate her. She pleaded with him, "Dad, please let me go. I will not hate you if you let me go."