A young woman who used assisted dying laws to end her life has been memorialized at a moving funeral service – as her final moments are revealed by her close friend.
Lily Thai, 23, ‘passed away peacefully’ while surrounded by friends and family at Laurel Hospice at Flinders Medical Center on Wednesday, June 21.
She decided to end her life after years of battling autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG) – a rare condition in which a person’s body attacks its own nervous system.
The debilitating illness left her unable to walk, drink or eat without being sick, while Ms. Thai was in constant pain.
Family and friends attended Ms Thai’s funeral service on Thursday, where she was remembered by loved ones as intelligent, loving, courageous and compassionate.
A heartbreaking funeral service has been held for Lily Thai, 23, who last week used assisted dying laws to end her life (pictured, Ms Thai right with friend Annaliese Holland)
Annaliese Holland, 23, who formed a close friendship with Ms Thai in hospital as the couple battled the same illness, recalled her close friend’s last moments as she gave an emotional speech at the service.
“I was so honored to be asked by Lily to be with her on Wednesday and hold her hand, and I promised her, and I said I never break pink promises, and I didn’t,” she said .
“Lily was surrounded by so much love. Her family and her two beautiful friends, along with myself, we totally cherished those last moments.”
Ms. Holland revealed Ms. Thai’s “final wish” as she recalled their intimate conversations at the hospital.
“I asked Lily what I could do for her, anything, and one wish was that she wanted her life to be celebrated and known,” she said.
She wanted her journey to be known to help others. I hope I was able to give her a voice to share her story on all levels.”
“Second, she wanted her legacy to continue in some way. She loved the idea of something charitable, something that could benefit others.”
Ms. Holland pledged to hold “Lily’s Day” every June 21, where lily flowers – Ms. Thai’s favorite flower – will be sold to raise money for charity.
She also promised Ms. Thai to continue her work for the Hospital Research Foundation for both of them.
Ms. Holland (pictured right with her mother), who formed a close friendship with Ms. Thai in hospital as the couple battled the same illness, recalled her final moments in service
Ms. Thai (pictured) was remembered by her loved ones as intelligent, loving, courageous and compassionate
“I will always remember you, cherish you and keep you in my heart. We’ll eat your father’s pizza like we said, one day there together,’ Mrs. Holland added.
I promise you I will fight until I can’t anymore. I will not stop spreading awareness and I will be raising much needed awareness and donations because no one should have to go through what we have at 23 years old.”
“I’ll be over the moon with you again.”
Ms Thai’s mother, Kate, said she would “cherish” the moments she spent with her daughter as she delivered the final speech at the service.
“(Lily) came into the world with wide eyes and an abundance of energy for love and life,” she said.
“She grew into a kind and compassionate young woman who interacted with people from all walks of life. She grew into a beautiful young woman – intelligent, compassionate and courageous.”
She ended her speech with the words of her daughter’s favorite fictional character, Winnie the Pooh.
“If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart and I’ll be there forever.”
Ms. Thai selected a collection of her favorite music to play at her service before her death. She also planned to have her hair turned into natural diamonds.
Her coffin contained a collection of jewelery especially for her, several stuffed animals, a silk eye mask, a painting of her cockatoo, her Scotch College blazer, and a wooden cross given to her by her cardiologist.
The family of 23-year-old Lily Thai (above) confirmed her death after the terminally ill young woman used assisted suicide laws to end her life
For a time, Ms. Thai was able to stand and walk again while wearing her ‘halo’ (pictured).
Since the age of 17, Ms. Thai’s debilitating illnesses had affected her quality of life, leaving her bedridden and unable to move.
She received palliative care at Laurel Hospice in the weeks before her death.
Ms. Thai was the daughter of high-flying culinary couple Le Tu Thai and Kate Sparrow.
Mr Thai is a Vietnamese refugee who became one of Adelaide’s most respected chefs.
He and his partner Kate rose to prominence through their Nediz Tu restaurant before Mr Thai later took over the kitchen at the town’s famous Bridgewater Mill restaurant.
One person who had been by Ms Thai’s side was her close friend and paramedic Danika Pederzolli, 28.
Ms Pederzolli took Ms Thai to the beach, sharing a heartwarming photo of the pair sitting in the back of an open ambulance enjoying the sight of the ocean and some McDonald’s fries.
After meeting Ms. Thai through a St. John’s Ambulance cadet program, Ms. Pederzolli said she would remember her friend’s “vivid attitude, positive and warm presence.”
“She’s such a positive and warm presence in your life and (such a) smart person,” she said. “She was just so happy, and she still is now, she’s no different.”
Ms. Pederzolli described Lily as “sunshine in human form” and wrote her a heartfelt letter which she presented to her along with a teddy bear.
Ambulance worker Danika Pederzolli took Ms Thai to the beach, with a heartwarming photo showing the pair sitting in the back of an open ambulance enjoying the sight of the ocean and some McDonald’s fries
Ms Thai said her experience talking about AAG was incredible with several people reaching out to show their support.
“A lot of people (who) I haven’t talked to in a long time (have been in touch), which was absolutely beautiful,” she said.
Ms. Thai had not been well enough to go out in her last days and would instead stay in her bed while being comforted by her friends and family.
The drug used to end her life under new assisted dying laws in South Australia was administered using an IV and she died within 10 seconds.