The Last Right: Craig Schonegevel’s struggle to live and die with dignity

How would you like to die? This is the question Craig Schonegevel’s brave life anddeath challenge us to ask of ourselves and the society we live in. Is it humane to deny those who suffer from an incurable or life-threatening illness the right to a dignified death? The Last Right is the true story of Craig Schonegevel who suffered from the extremely variable condition known as Neurofibromatosis Type 1. In Craig’s case his life was mostly one of operations, pain and suffering and his brave attempts to slay the NF 1 dragon that kept on gnawing at his life and his body. His extraordinary courage in the face of this disease is to be admired and provides some relief from the anguish and sadness that pervades the book. Craig was 28 years old when he decided he had had enough, his symptoms began to worsen and the agony was too much to bear so he sought self-deliverance. The Last Right asks the reader to put themselves in Craig’s shoes, to get to know how the disease Neurofibromatosis Type 1 affected him and finally to decide whether they would have considered making the same choice that Craig did. It is the true story of how one family, their friends and the community.