A woman with early-onset Alzheimer’s has shared her decision to end her life.
Just two years ago, Rebecca Luna, a mother of two, was thriving in her demanding yet fulfilling job.
But after encountering some unsettling “blips,” she sensed a major shift was coming.
In November, the 48-year-old received an early-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis after visiting her neurologist, having previously undergone testing twice.
For two years, she experienced memory lapses and mid-conversation blackouts, attributing them to stress.
Seeking professional guidance revealed it was more than just burnout.
Rebecca explained to the Daily Mail: “I’ll just be fully engulfed in a conversation, super confident in what I’m saying, and oftentimes it’s like retelling a story, and then mid-sentence, out of nowhere, it’s just gone, like the information is gone.
“It feels black for some reason, and blank. Now I’d say it’s 80 percent of the time I can’t recall what I’m saying.”
Working in child protective services, she initially suspected ADHD or early menopause.
However, cognitive test failures and MRIs unveiled the reality.
Her brain showed signs of shrinkage, and proteins were found in her spinal tap.
Alzheimer’s typically leads to an eight-year life expectancy post-diagnosis, leaving Rebecca with potentially less than a decade as her cognitive faculties wane.
As a result, she has decided to take control of her fate before becoming incapacitated.
Rebecca has chosen to engage with Canada’s medical assistance in dying (MAID) program early, which was once restricted to those with only six months to live.
This program allows individuals to pursue legal euthanasia.
She now has the option to utilize this service later on.
Rebecca has been sharing her journey on social media, receiving support from followers on TikTok.
Discussing her decision, she mentioned that her older daughter, 28, is already aware, while she has yet to broach the subject with her younger daughter.
“It’s harder to talk to her about that, but my older daughter is a planner, so she’s much like me, where it’s not emotional, it’s planning,” she explained.
Rebecca mourns the limited time left with her children, noting: “They may not want to admit that right now, but I have been their beacon, and I have been their rock… and only thing that I am proud of myself for my entire life is how I’ve been able to show up for my children. And for them to lose that security terrifies me.
“I’ve worked in palliative care, and I worked in hospice, and death and dying does not scare me.
“It’s actually the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed. So I don’t have fear around that at all.”
Rebecca is open about her end-of-life planning, acknowledging its controversy but affirming it as her chosen path.
Through MAID, she could have a nurse practitioner administer a life-ending injection or prescribe drugs for self-administration.
Eligibility requires meeting several criteria, such as being of legal age, mentally competent, having a grievous and irremediable condition, making an informed and voluntary request, and qualifying for provincial or federal health services.
Rebecca has also communicated her anticipated life changes and sought support on her GoFundMe page.
While aware of her life’s likely conclusion, she is currently taking a break from work and continues to share her experiences.
“Asking for help for help is not easy but I’ve learned that allowing others to support me is part of the journey too. Whether you can donate, share or just send encouragement – thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Rebecca wrote.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.