A 20-year-old man has said he is pursuing medically assisted dying after years of struggling with chronic pain due to a mystery illness.
Canadian Eric Coulam, from Fort St John, British Columbia, has a medical condition that doctors have been unable to diagnose.
He says his condition has left him in agony for years - and his family support his decision to end his life.
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He says he wants to end his suffering after being left with liver and kidney disease because of the mystery gastrointestinal condition.
Around 600 friends and family attended a heartbreaking 'goodbye' BBQ for the young man.
He says the problem has plagued him for the better part of a decade, and he isn't willing to live in constant pain any longer.
In June 2016, the Parliament of Canada passed federal legislation that allows eligible Canadian adults to request medical assistance in dying.
"I sometimes lay there at night and get sad sometimes, but for the most part, I'm waiting for the day because I'm in lots of pain all the time," he told local news outlet Energetic City.
"I'm on many meds just to be comfortable for a few hours."
He spoke previously of his desperation to stay in control.
Eric says he will ultimately decide when to officially end his life - and where he does it.
He stressed that he had not chosen a specific date, and it would be his choice when he has done certain things and seen specific people before saying his final goodbye.
He said last month: "I can go when I'm ready, it's not when I'm sick, it's not when they pull my meds or anything, it's when I'm ready."
"I thought about it for a while. I kind of ghosted my family because I wasn't in a good place. I knew it was what I wanted to do. It was hard to tell everyone else."
Eric says he is overwhelmed by the amount of support he has around the world.
A Facebook page called Eric's Army is filled with love-filled messages and posts from friends, family and strangers hearing about his story.
"You are a true fighter and a true hero, my friend," wrote one, with another saying: "You sound like a great person who doesn't deserve what you are going through."
In Canada, to be considered eligible for assisted dying, a person must be over 18 and have a "serious and incurable illness, disease or disability".
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