Jerika Bolen dies two months after her “Last Dance”

[Archae]

Source: WBAY, ABC affiliate in Green bay, WI

APPLETON, Wis. (WBAY) – 14-year-old Jerika Bolen, an Appleton girl whose decision to have a prom before she died, passed away in hospice care — ending a lifelong battle with a painful and incurable disease.

Jerika suffered from Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type II, or SMA. She told us in July she was in a wheelchair as long as she can remember. She was unable to move most of her body, with the exception of her hand and parts of her face.

And she wanted to stop using the ventilator that helped her breathe.

Read more: http://wbay.com/2016/09/22/jerika-bolen-dies-two-months-after-her-last-dance/

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RIP, young lady. You're no longer hurting.

[KamaAina]

1. She would have made a terrific grownup.

If only somebody could have convinced her of that.

[nolabear]

3. She would have. But I wouldn't condemn anyone to years of pain and immobility.

I'm sorry it was like that. But I understand her need for it to end. What a tragedy.

[KamaAina]

4. I know several adults with her disability, spinal muscular atrophy type 2.

Oddly enough, one wrote a lengthy polemic defending Jerika's decision. As far as I know, though, none of the others are pining away for death.

And as a general rule, when teenagers express suicidal thoughts, we try to talk them out of it. I've got to wonder if being disabled, African American and female might have equaled three strikes.

[nolabear]

5. Yes, that's true re teens. I don't know but I expect that was done.

I don't know much about her so won't claim special understanding. I am torn about forced suffering though.

[LeftyMom]

8. If you know them and they're adults, the progression of their disease is different than hers.

She was going to lose her remaining control of her hand and her face, and thus any ability to communicate.

That's scary for anyone, but for somebody who is in a spectacular amount of pain? That's a screaming horror.

[hotrod0808]

9. My daughter had Type 1

I am still active in the community, and my fiancee and I still visit with SMA kids and their parents. Thus, I too am friends with several teen/adult Type 2s and a few teen/adult Type 1s. The disease affects every person differently. We wondered why our daughter could not do certain things that other Type 1s could, and we wondered why some kids did not live as long as ours did even though their treatment plan was identical. The disease is just all over the spectrum on how badly it weakens the afflicted. Plus, every time one of these kids gets sick, has a lung collapse, or even a contusion/broken bone from being moved the wrong way, then it weakens them even more. Every surgery, every breathing treatment, every machine assisted cough causes strain on systems that we take for granted, but they cannot afford to lose. I will never state my feelings on Jerika's decision because I do not have the disease. I do know that I loved Jerika as I love every brave SMA Warrior and each one of them worldwide is gone too soon, no matter the reason.

[calimary]

2. Thank you for posting this, Archae.

She flies freely now, and dances on clouds.

[alphafemale]

6. She seemed very articulate about her decision.

I don't know that forcing her to wait to 18 would have been humane when she was clearly ready to not keep fighting to make others feel better.

[joeybee12]

7. I'm sure she's finally at peace

RIP

[romanic]

10. RIP Jerika.