We who shared his last moment took our next breath and moved on without him, as the living must. But our moving on was that much easier because the Oregon law allowed us to share his last moments and say our goodbyes while he was lucid and present, knowing he died on his own terms. -Nora Miller

Like the vast majority of Americans, Nora's husband wanted to die peacefully at home, and with the help of Oregon's Death with Dignity Act he did. All Americans should have this right when facing a terminal illness, and we at the Death with Dignity National Center work hard to help people learn about hospice and palliative care as well as expanded end-of-life options like Death with Dignity laws.

But our work doesn't happen without your help. Because opponents of physician-assisted death rely on unproven myths to make their case, the foundation to enacting new Death with Dignity Acts is a public which understands the facts about these laws. During this season of giving, our goal is to raise $100,000 to support our education efforts year round. Will you help us Bring Dignity Home?

Education will be a crucial part of our work in the coming year. Grassroots groups in two states, Massachusetts and Vermont, are currently working to enact new Death with Dignity Acts in 2012.  With your help to reach our goal, we'll be ready to support these groups with our decades of experience in this movement.

The Massachusetts effort looks so promising that our board voted to invest significant financial resources to help ensure success. Additionally, we've provided grassroots organizing support to the people of Massachusetts. Two of our board members live in Boston, and we have a deep commitment to end-of-life care policy reform in the Commonwealth. Our organization provided the financial and legal resources necessary to author the Massachusetts Death with Dignity Act currently being considered for the 2012 state ballot. We've helped the Massachusetts-based Dignity 2012, identify supporters and volunteers, and we'll continue to participate in the campaign throughout 2012.

In Vermont, with the state legislature ready to consider Death with Dignity during the 2012 session, our organization has partnered with Patient Choices Vermont throughout the year to contribute non-political, educational presentations and materials to those participating in the important debate about expanded end-of-life care options. With Patient Choices, we coordinated two public education tours so Oregonians and Washingtonians intimately familiar with their states' Death with Dignity Acts could help Vermonters gain a better understanding of their proposed law.

With the major signature collecting complete in Massachusetts and Vermont poised to address Death with Dignity legislatively in January, there are many exciting steps ahead to ensure success in both states. We need your help to keep moving forward during this exciting time. Please help Bring Dignity Home through your tax-deductible donation today.