Brittany Maynard, a terminally ill woman, has chosen to end her life. The 29 year old from Oregon passed away on Saturday, November 1. She was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma and given six months to live earlier this year. Her condition, an aggressive brain cancer, is very dangerous. It led to lots of pain and suffering in her last months. Before she died, she and her family, including the husband she left behind, traveled around the United States, enjoying the beauty of nature.

In her last months, she became a prominent spokeswoman for Compassion & Choices, an advocacy group for death with dignity rights. Compassion & Choices is the leading nonprofit organization committed to helping everyone have the best death possible. They offer free counseling, planning resources, referrals and guidance, and across the nation they work to protect and expand options at the end of life.

Maynard chose doctor-assisted suicide because she believed without a doubt that her disease was going to kill her. She wanted to die in the most painless, dignified way possible.

Where do I stand on this very controversial issue? That’s a tough question. Of course, I understand her decision and her reasoning behind it. She was stuck in a very difficult place that seemed to have no way out. However, I believe there is always a chance that things will get better.

Personally, I don’t believe that the right to choose whether you live or die is a right that belongs to anyone, no matter who you are. God has a plan for you, and I promise you, it’s better than anything you could come up with.

Why would anyone take the huge responsibility of making life-and-death decisions by themselves? Letting go of the need to control everything can bring us an amazing sense of peace.

While I don’t pretend to know what Maynard and her family have gone through in order to make this decision, I still don’t think I agree. I hope I am never faced with a dilemma like this, but if I am, I don’t think I will choose doctor-assisted suicide.

Please remember that this issue is a very personal matter and should be treated as such. Please keep the Maynard family in your thoughts and prayers as they go through this difficult time.