Having watched my grandfather, bedridden, being moved between numerous hospitals, nursing homes, and finally back home in the final year of his life, gave me an up close look at the mental and physical pain that comes when a loved one is nearing death.

I witnessed his frustration at how dependent on others he had become after the car crash that injured him.

I also got to see his fighting spirit, and his longing and appreciation for his own home and his family.

I know that every day required incredible effort, but he lived defiantly in spite of his weariness.

My family and I all found immense joy in spending whatever time we could with him, celebrating in quiet ways that he was alive. I wouldn’t trade those times for anything.

That being said, it is appalling to hear of the spreading “death with dignity” movement that aims to promote physician assisted suicide in cases of terminal illness, injuries, or disabilities.

I hate to think of a society that doesn’t see the hope in living. Contrary to what the name suggests, this movement does not promote a dignified end.

In fact, allowing such a practice would be the equivalent of saying that a person’s life is disposable and worthless because of his or her disability. This simply is not true.

Human life has dignity; dignity which is especially visible in the face of adversity.

We all experience hard times in life, and whether those struggles are small or life threatening; they do not make us less important than someone who is not struggling.

The best example of human dignity comes when we stand up in the face of adversity and do not let circumstances define our worth, or the worth of anyone we see struggling.

American society thrives on the determined underdog mentality, which fights, with a chip on the shoulder, to prove the odds wrong.

My hope is that this quality will be confirmed in our culture as we celebrate those who don’t give in and won’t give up, as well as offer support to those who have lost hope in the future.

Seeing our school rally around the Make a Wish Foundation is an incredibly optimistic sign.

I know that showing our belief and optimism for our Make a Wish kid, Gabriela makes a difference.

Gabriela’s words, “Life threw me a curveball and I hit it out of the park,” are an awesome sign that there is hope in all circumstances; that even in suffering, life is worth living.