Josie Grove's mum backs teenager's decision to die

Nov 17 2008 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

THE mum of brave Josie Grove has offered support to the family of a teenage girl who won the right to die.

Last week 13-year-old Hannah Jones, from Marden, Hereford, chose not to continue with treatment to help her live with acute myeloid leukaemia.

Her story mirrors the courageous battle the Corbridge youngster went through before she died at home last February.

Josie was diagnosed with the condition when she was 14 but a bone marrow transplant failed twice. When she was told there was little hope she took the decision to end her treatment.

Hannah, who was told a heart transplant could – possibly – save her life, but her chances of surviving the operation are slim.

Jacqui Grove, 46, who now lives in Thailand with husband Cliff, 48, with their three other children, Libby, 13, Freddie, 15, and Charlie, two, said: “All I can say to them is that my daughter made her own choice about how she would die.

“And, in a way, when she would die. She left this world peacefully, with a host of memories packed into her final months.

“Memories she could not have created without that small amount of time to live her life as she wished.

“Hannah’s parents have also chosen to respect their daughter’s wishes. It is a brave decision for them. For us it was the right one. I believe it is the right one for them, too.

“When I read about Hannah, I thought: ‘Just 13, so young.’ But I didn’t mean too young to make the choice she has, simply that she is so young to have to face this.”

Charity Josie’s Dragonfly raised money to buy arts and crafts for terminally ill children, as well as giving one-off £500 grants in their final months. In its first year it raised almost £167,000.

Mrs Grove added: “Children like Josie and Hannah are very involved in the details of their treatment. The consultants never lie to them.

“They tell them when a treatment isn’t working and what, if any, options there are.”

To support Josie’s Dragonfly visit www.josiesdragonfly.org.