The Deaf Brothers from Belgium that Decided to Die Together

Two brothers were born deaf. They were twins. They were twin, deaf brothers. I don't know if they were identical or fraternal twins, but they lived in Western Europe—in Belgium.

Being deaf, and being brothers, and being twins, they relied on each other heavily.

Oh, the years passed by, and as the years passed by, they got older. And then they got even older still. As they got older, they grew inseparable—so much so that they no longer relied upon each other—they needed each other. They got older still.

I don't know if they got married to women or whatever, if that's what you're wondering.

People get old. These twin, deaf brothers got old together, and then something terrible began to happen...

They both began to go blind. And my heart broke when I heard this. But Western Europe is very accommodating. So Western Europe told them this:

"Twin, deaf brothers, as your eyesight begins to fade, we are willing to put you into institutions that will take care of both of you, and both of you will be able to continue living together into even older age. What do you two think of that?"

I'm sure they couldn't hear that, but it was communicated to them, one way or another. The twin, deaf brothers consulted with each other, barely being able to see.

They held hands, and finally agreed on something by themselves, as they began to cry.

No. They would not be put into institutions, deaf and blind, not being able to see or communicate with each other any more; they wouldn't have it! So they communicated to the state something to the effect of:

"Thank you for your generous offer State, but we must decline. Being deaf and blind, we brothers would not be able to communicate with each other any more, and we just can't accept that fate. We don't want to leave each other. I would never leave my brother alone, and I would never leave my brother alone either. We love each other too much and life would be unbearable without each other, State. We would be lost in darkness and silence, and without each other. We can't live with that option. We won't leave each other. We can't do that to each other. We don't want to do that to each other. We won't do that to each other, State... our decision is to be euthanized together, before our last glimpses of each other. Thank you."

The state fought them for three years on this, as the brothers grew blinder and blinder.

Finally, mercy shined its light on the brothers' fading eyes, and for a moment they saw each other clearly. They smiled at each other—they would get their wish.

They were taken to a hospital to be euthanized. They were put on gurneys. At this point the brothers were very old. They were ushered into a room. They held hands and looked at each other—they could barely see.

One brother nodded to the other. The other brother nodded back. They could still see each other. Liquids were pumped into their veins, and the brothers became very calm. Everything was very serene, and they became sedated. They felt well. They nodded to each other again, and as they held hands, they began to cry. One brother got up—never letting go of his brothers hand—and got into his brothers gurney. Their other brother and their parents began to cry. The nurses and doctors were crying as well. They held each other.

One brother finally breathed his last breath, as he mouthed to his brother, "I love you." His brother mouthed back, "I love you too." And one brother was peacefully gone. The other brother held his brother, as he became sleepier and sleepier; he could feel the passing away. He smiled, kissed his brother on the forehead, and breathed his last breath.

There the brothers lay holding each other and passed away—gone to SEE and HEAR the LORD, sing songs and dance, and be together forever in heaven.

This is a true story.

The Huffington Post - 1/14/2013 - http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/14/twin-brothers-die-by-euthanasia-after-blind-diagnosis_n_2470551.html