Terminally ill Wisconsin teen to end life support after throwing her own prom

A terminally ill Wisconsin teen has made the difficult decision to end her life, as her battle with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) becomes too painful to bear. But 14-year-old Jerika Bolen is determined to celebrate her life with one last dance.

Bolen has suffered from SMA Type 2, an incurable disease, since she was an infant.

The disease causes the weakness and loss of all muscle control, leaving her in debilitating pain and wheelchair bound for as long as she can remember. Though she still has control of some muscle function in her face and hands, she has endured countless surgeries – including having rods placed in her spine – as treatment.

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But, at the end of August, Bolen will remove the ventilator that keeps her alive.

“When I decided, I felt extremely happy and sad at the same time,” she told the Appletown Post-Crescent Wednesday.

“There were a lot of tears, but then I realized I’m going to be in a better place, and I’m not going to be in this terrible pain. I’ve been working on it and thinking about it for way longer than anyone else has.”

The decision has left her with many emotional concerns; she told the Appletown Post-Crescent she’s scared her mother will take it too hard and stop taking care of herself.

But the teen said she feels nothing but happiness as her friends and family help prepare her dying wish – a prom.

According to the Washington Post, she will wear a dress in her favourite colours, green and black, and there will be hors d’oeuvres, candy, cake and dancing – lots of dancing. Her friends are even coming up with a choreographed number to celebrate their friend.

“People getting crazy on the dance floor; she loves that,” her mother said.

Her mother, Jen Bolen, supports her daughter’s decision.

“I know she’s only 14, but she’s old enough to decide,” she told the Appletown Post-Crescent. “It’s her body and it’s her pain.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I know she's only 14, but she's old enough to decide," she told the Appletown Post-Crescent. "It's her body and it's her pain."

Once Bolen’s ventilator is turned off it’s uncertain how long the process will take.

Bolen’s prom will take place Friday in Appleton, Wisconsin. The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money for the event.