Inspirational Melksham women nominated for Cosmo award

TWO Melksham sisters have been nominated for the Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women of the Year Awards for 2013. 

Lauren and Beth Nicklinson received their nomination in the ‘Ultimate Campaigner’ category as together they have been fighting their father’s ‘right to die’ case during and now beyond his life.

Their father, Tony Nicklinson’s case reached national and international headlines when following a stroke,  he was left with locked-in syndrome, which he described as a “living nightmare”. He and his wife, Jane, and daughters fought for his right to die. After being denied this right at the High Court, Tony died last year from natural causes.

Lauren and Beth say they do not want anyone to suffer the way their father and family have done and have continued campaigning for the ‘right to die’ for people in similar circumstances.

How far would you be prepared to go for someone you loved? Would you help them die? This was the agonising dilemma faced by Beth and Lauren after their father Tony suffered a stroke in June 2005. The family were settled in the UAE when Tony travelled to Athens on business and the call came that changed their lives forever.

Flying to Tony’s side with her mum Jane, Lauren was faced with a heartbreaking sight.  She said, “He was covered in tubes, and Mum told me I should say goodbye. It was devastating – I’d always been a Daddy’s girl.”

In August, Tony was flown back to the UK with Jane, while Lauren returned to the UAE to collect Beth.

Beth said, “When we flew back to the UK to see Dad, I wasn’t prepared for how he looked. He could only communicate by blinking, and we knew he wasn’t going to get better.”

Diagnosed with locked-in syndrome, Tony was in permanent discomfort. Lauren said, “He couldn’t speak, his muscles were wasting away, he suffered weight loss, bed sores, incontinence, chest infections…He suffered so many indignities.”

In September, Lauren enrolled at university while Beth stayed at home, visiting Tony at every opportunity. Beth said, “I tried to be there for Mum as much as possible, but it was hard. I didn’t have much of a life, or many friends. We spent a lot of the time sitting with Dad in silence – but there was no question that we wouldn’t do it.”

By summer 2009, Tony had expressed a wish to end his life, and the family began to discuss how to help him. Beth said, “It was hard, but Dad had been so lively before, we knew he wouldn’t want to live that way. Contacting the legal team of Debbie Purdie, an MS sufferer who’d fought for the right to voluntary euthanasia, the family began their battle to obtain legal immunity should a doctor help Tony to die.

Lauren said, “As time went by, we became more and more involved, and there was no question we wouldn’t help him. We were scared to lose him, but couldn’t ask him to stay.”

On 16th August 2012, the High Court refused to grant Tony the right to voluntary euthanasia without the risk of prosecution for those involved.

Beth said, “Dad had been so determined, but we hadn’t realised quite how much it meant to him. He completely broke down, and I could hear him sobbing. No child should have to experience that.”

Four days after the verdict, Tony was diagnosed with a collapsed lung. Deciding to remain at home, he died two days later.

Lauren said, “His last words to me were, ‘It has to be this way’. At last, he wasn’t hurting anymore.” Despite their grief, the family lodged an appeal against the ruling, joined by Paul Lamb, who is severely paralysed. In July, the appeal was rejected, but the family plans to lodge a further appeal so they can carry on fighting.

Lauren said, “I want to know it won’t be me one day – that if I ended up like Dad, I’d have that right to die. We still care deeply, even though Dad’s gone. We need to know his pain was for a reason.”

Jane Nicklinson said, “Lauren and Beth have been my rock over the last eight years, and without them I don’t think I would have come through this as well as I have. I don’t think anyone can imagine what it is like to go on national TV and announce that they want their Dad to die. It took tremendous strength of character and courage. Both turned out to be strong, confident successful young women. I’m so proud of them.”

The Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women of the Year Awards take place this year at the London V&A on 5th December.