05/09/2026
A grandma heartbreakingly hugged her grandson goodbye and flew to Swiss clinic before issuing her final wish 💔
With her family by her side at the Swiss clinic where she was about to un alive herself Gaynor Griffiths told her loved ones: "Please carry on this fight for me."
The "one in a million" 63-year-old flew to the Pegasos clinic in April as she sought to avoid the torture of motor neurone disease. With husband Gary, 64, and their children Ami and Alex by her side, Gaynor told them: "Try and get them to change their minds. We can try and make a difference."
Gaynor's had travelled to Switzerland days before the assisted dy!ng bill ran out of time on April 24. MPs had backed the bill last year, but more than 1,000 amendments saw its progress hampered in the House of Lords
She left her family a letter before leaving the UK, telling them not to open it until after her death. In it, she explained "the decision to end my life was mine alone", making sure she protected them from any problems with the law back in the UK.
Gaynor wrote: "Dad and I have been married for 42 years, we love each other very much and know each other extremely well. We have had a happy and fortunate life together. We've been blessed to have you two wonderful kids... and now [grandson] Rory."
She told of being "lucky to have had (up to now) good health, lovely homes and amazing holidays. All these things makes my decision so hard. I will miss you all so much, it breaks my heart".
She told of hating not being able to walk and "play with my grandson" adding: "I'm devastated that dad and I won't be able to fulfill our retirement together, all those wonderful trips, Spain and spending time with family and friends. I'm so incredibly sad but I can't live like this.
"I'm dy!ng, I want to d!e under my terms before I become a mind living in a dead body...I believe just existing is not living. So when the shocking news of MND happened I knew I would make the decision 'to go to Switzerland'. Becoming a mind trapped in a useless body is totally abhorrent to me."
She ended the letter thanking her husband for going with her on "the last of our trips together". "I can't imagine doing it alone. I know it will be horrendous for him, and I detest the thought of that, but I really need him beside me." ❤️
The family had left their home in Kent for Gatwick Airport after Gaynor said goodbye to her three-year-old grandson Rory, telling him: "I love you to the moon and back." Their touching family term of endearment.
Culled from Manchester Evening News
