Disabled girl, 14, reveals plan to end her life after one final dance at her own prom
She has decided to end her life next month... and loves music, but does not have many friends, so anyone's invited
A 14-YEAR-OLD girl who was left severely disabled by a life-shortening disease has made the heartbreaking decision to end her life, after one last special dance.
Jerika Bolen is in constant pain and struggles to use most of her muscles, because she suffers from the relentless Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2, also known as SMA.
Jerika, from Winsconsin, wants to end her life her own way – but before that, she will host a special prom tomorrow night, and everyone’s invited.
She told : “I don’t have many friends, because I couldn’t get out really and do many things because I was in so much pain.
“And this prom is, we’ll we call it my last dance.”
“I immediately got on the internet and found other families like ours.
“My heart broke seeing all the photos of babies who lost their lives to this disease, but I also found many families whose children were living and HAPPY and I was put in touch with an amazing doctor near us in Madison.
“Dr Schroth is a specialist in her disease and I can never thank her enough for all of these ‘extra’ years we have had.
“Despite the fact that Jerika never crawled, walked, rode a bike or did many other things most children can she was a very happy girl.
“I couldn't begin to put words to the gift my girl has been to my life.
“I promised my child when it got to be too much I would be behind her no matter what.
“She has endured more in her 14 years of life than most adults will ever have to.
“I am beyond proud of her for fighting so hard for this long and I am honoured to be her mother.
“She has let me know now that she needs to be free of her broken body.
“She has a couple last wishes that I would love your help with. She wants a to have a ‘prom’... one night of music and dancing and fun.
“She wants a disco ball and black and lime green decor and to be surrounded by lots of friends she has been unable to see for a long time.
“She also wants to make it down to see her other SMA friends we see every year at Avery's Race the weekend of July 14.
“After that she will come home and begin her journey to Heaven.”
Jerika told NBC: “When pain is too much, it’s too much. I need to do what’s best for me. It was a really hard decision to make.”
Towards the end of next month (August), Jerika will stop using her ventilator and start hospice care.