“The anesthesiologist who evidently had not read my file was very upset by this, claiming he did not know. He got in my face and told me I was leaving my children without a mother, that I was going to die on that table. ‘This is as bad as it gets. Are you sure that’s the choice you want to make?’ I knew I had to be calm if I wanted him to believe me. I told him I understood, and yes, I was sure of my choice. He went over to my mom and gave her the same speech. She, like me, kept her cool.”