‘I Am So Tired of My Life’: A Daughter’s Story of Helping Her Mom Choose Medical Aid in Dying

A text message in late February stopped Shannon Bennett in her tracks. It was from her 82-year-old mother, Gayle Hamer, and it carried a weight that left her breathless. The message was a heartbreaking plea that would change the course of their family’s life.

“She said, ‘Please don’t get angry or upset, but I am so tired of my life. Could you please look into assisted suicide for me,’” Shannon recalled to 9News, overcome with emotion. „I just was, like, speechless.“

This was the start of an emotional and deeply personal journey into the complex choice of Medical Aid in Dying (MAID), a legal end-of-life option for the terminally ill. It’s a story of a mother’s wish for peace and a family’s ultimate act of love and support.

An Eight-Year Battle and a Lost Quality of Life

Gayle Hamer’s request was not a sudden impulse but the culmination of a long and painful decline. Eight years earlier, she was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Despite enduring surgery and chemotherapy, the disease left her with a host of debilitating symptoms, including constant dizziness and a complete loss of appetite.

In the last year, her illness was declared terminal. The simple activities that once brought her joy were now impossible.

„I can’t read, I can’t knit, I can’t do any of the things I liked doing before and I don’t see any reason to keep on going,“ Gayle explained in an interview before she passed away. „I just think everybody has the right to choose when their time is up and nobody should dictate that.“ For Gayle, life had become an exercise in endurance, not enjoyment, and she was ready to reclaim control over her final chapter.

Understanding Medical Aid in Dying (MAID): What You Should Know

After realizing the toll her cancer was taking, Gayle decided to pursue Medical Aid in Dying (MAID). This is a legal medical process in her home state of Colorado, governed by the End-of-Life Options Act of 2016. It is essential to understand what MAID is and how it differs from euthanasia.

MAID is a legal option that grants terminally ill individuals autonomy over their final days. Besides Colorado, MAID is authorized in California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont, Washington D.C., Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, and New Mexico.

A Family’s Unwavering Support for a Final Wish

Gayle knew her request was a heavy burden for her children. „I know I put my kids in sort of a tough spot by asking them, but I didn’t want them to be shocked,” she said.

Despite the personal pain, her children responded with compassion and unwavering support.

„I fully support her decision if this is what she wants to do,“ her son, Ty Hamer, stated in an emotional interview.

Shannon added, “I feel extremely lucky that this is an option for her because it’s just too miserable to go on for months or longer.” Their support was a testament to their deep love for their mother and their respect for her autonomy.

A Peaceful End, Surrounded by Love

On March 20, 2025, with her loving children by her side, Gayle Hamer took the prescribed medication and peacefully ended her life on her own terms. Her final days were filled with heartfelt expressions of love for her family.

„My children have been beyond the call, they are wonderful human beings,“ she shared prior to her death. „I couldn’t be more grateful that they’re my children and grandchildren.“

Weeks after her mother’s passing, Shannon reflected on the loss. Amidst the tears and the grief, she also felt a sense of gratitude.

“I’m very proud of her,” Shannon said. “I just wanted people to be made aware that there is an option for people to have more control over their end-of-life journey.“ Her mother’s story serves as a powerful testament to the importance of dignity and choice at the end of life.