South Australian mum opens up about how her terminally ill teenage son took his own life
A devastated mother has told how her terminally ill teenage son committed suicide in front of her home.
Rhys Habermann, 19, recorded a video in January 2017 revealing his wish to die after an 18-month battle with cancer that started in his hip but spread to his shoulders, ribs, spine, skull and lungs.
Facing an agonizing death in palliative care, Rhys chose instead to end his own life at their home in South Australia in front of his heartbroken parents.
After an 18-month police investigation, his parents were cleared of any wrongdoing, thanks in large part to the video.
Now Rhys’ mom, Liz, has revealed how proud her son would be that his legacy led, in part, to the state’s Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) law set to take effect in January of this year.
Rhys Habermann (pictured), 19, recorded a video in January 2017 revealing his wish to die after an 18-month battle with cancer that started in his hip but spread to his shoulders, ribs, spine, skull and lungs
Rhys’ mother, Liz (pictured, centre), has said how proud her son would be that his legacy led in part to the South Australian Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) Act due to take effect in January this year
“Rhy’s death was not in vain and he would be so proud,” said Mrs. Habermann 7News.
“He’d be glad his story helps people understand that VAD is a kinder and more compassionate way to die.”
The traumatic experience began in 2015 when Rhys, then in his final year at Immanuel College in Adelaide, returned home with pain in his hip.
He went for an MRI scan that showed he suffered from Ewing’s sarcoma, a form of bone cancer.
The teen quickly began rounds of emetic chemotherapy, but it couldn’t stop the cancer from spreading throughout his body.
After his 19th birthday, he was told the disease would kill him and began to seriously consider suicide.
“He didn’t want to be in a coma in bed,” Liz told the network.
Brett and Liz Habermann’s son Rhys (all pictured together) took his own life after it became clear his diagnosis of Ewing’s sarcoma was terminal
In a video taken before committing suicide, Rhys said: ‘I believe in my right to die of my own choice’
His condition worsened to the point where one day he couldn’t get out of bed.
“He couldn’t move, so we took him to the hospital, and they found a tumor on his spine,” Liz said.
When he got home, he told his mother it was time.
“He’s had enough,” Liz said.
“So the kids came over to see him, and he got some friends over to spend time with him.”
That same weekend in January 2017, Rhys recorded a poignant video in which he outlined his desire to die.
“I believe in my right to die of my own choosing,” he said.
“This is hard for everyone, but I refuse to go into palliative care, after going through a bit of it over the past week. It’s more painful than I could ever have imagined.’
Just minutes after recording the footage, he took his own life in front of his parents. His siblings, unaware of the plan, had been sent away for fear of implicating them.
Ms Habermann said her son taught her “compassion and understanding”.
Rhys, who was a thrill seeker, had wanted to focus on his 12 years of college, but a doctor had told him ‘you need to focus on just staying alive’
“People don’t like to talk about death and dying, but we have to,” she said.
“We have to be compassionate, it should be a choice and most people won’t take advantage of it, but if we can help just one person not to suffer then our work is done.”
Ms Habermann said the choice was up to the individual and they had the right to make their own decision if they were in extreme pain.
“The treatment can be almost as horrifying as the disease, so some people stop treating their children,” she said.
“And people who aren’t in that situation are very judgmental, and it’s like it’s not your life, it’s not yours to take.”
While VAD is now legalized in Mrs Habermann’s state, this is not the case for the whole of Australia and is only available to those who meet certain criteria.
Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland, NSW, Tasmania and South Australia have all passed their own legislation to allow the practice.
However, the ACT is expected to introduce its bill to the ACT Legislative Assembly in the second half of 2023, while the NT has yet to reveal its plans.