Dad’s short life sparks his daughter’s stand
Glenn Major was a soccer dad and it is down to him his 17-year-old daughter now represents Waikato and Bay of Plenty in the beautiful game.
He does not know this. He died nine years ago.
His daughter, Rachel, believes that if euthanasia had been legal when she was aged 1, there was a chance she would have never gotten to know her dad for the nine years they did have.
Rachel was one of those gathered outside Parliament yesterday imploring MPs to vote against the subject of euthanasia going to a referendum at the 2020 election.
‘‘I just think if it goes to the public, they are not as educated as the MPs are,’’ the Waikato Diocesan School for Girls 2020 head girl said.
‘‘An MP’s job is to protect the public and keep them safe.’’
Rachel on Tuesday had a long list delivered to MPs, essentially asking if they realised how few safeguards there were in the proposed final version of the End of Life Choice Bill.
‘‘My dad, Glenn, had a brain tumour and died at the age of 42. He could have died when I was 1 or 4, he was under hospice [care] and looked like he was dying but he did not die, naturally, till I was 9. So I knew him.’’
While she did not think her father would have opted for euthanasia, he could have – when she was 1, then 4 and he was under hospice care – ‘‘been tempted or had any pressure or ideas planted in his head to consider it’’.
‘‘My dad Glenn ... could have died when I was 1 or 4 ... but he did not die, naturally, till I was 9. So I knew him.’’
Rachel Major with her father
‘‘You don’t want people around you to suffer – you don’t want to suffer.’’
But somehow, each time he pulled through and – though sick – managed to support her from the football sidelines.
When Rachel stood before her school on being named head girl for 2020, it was her father she thanked.
‘‘I just said: you are not here today.
‘‘I said: if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here.’’