THE WORLD

Updated Monday, January 29, 2024-08:37

  • Euthanasia Law The "I lift a finger" for the life of Jordi Sabaté Pons

  • Jordi Sabaté The tweeter who speaks with his eyes and hugs with his eyelashes: "The Government wants us dead"

Jordi Sabaté Pons' last message on social networks once again shakes consciences.

"In two minutes I'm already dead,"

he writes on X (formerly Twitter).

Quickly, the reactions of his followers escalate towards concern: "Don't make such bad jokes!" they reply. He reiterates that it is not a joke, and encourages you to

watch the video

that accompanies those words.

In the images you can see the constant care he needs

to stay alive

and Sabaté Pons remembers the high cost of it, starting with paying the electricity bills.

"If I didn't pay the expensive electricity bill for the machines that allow me to breathe, I would be dead in two minutes. We

ALS patients

pay to breathe, it's not fair."

For years he has become an activist to give visibility to this degenerative and incurable disease. Lying in his bed with an adapted chair, Sabaté Pons

calls for a law

that assists patients like him.

His criticisms of the Government have resonated thanks to the Internet and the new speakers it offers, since

the aid is not enough

for everything he needs.

In an interview with this newspaper a little over a year ago, Sabaté told a story about

what it means for him to stay alive

.

"I have four people from the health sector who assist me 24 hours a day/7 days to stay alive

. I have to pay their salaries out of my pocket for these people; a cost of more than 6,000 euros per month. Not having help for this life support , five of my relatives pay me that amount, which in total is between 60,000 and 100,000 euros a year so that I can stay alive. The health workers can get sick and go on vacation, and then you have to pay thousands of euros more to guarantee your survival since there are no social services for us. Not even residences. But

the worst thing is that every time you have to search, select and train people who will keep you alive

. And I have a streak of seven casualties in two months. It is "The only thing I feel bad about is my illness. We ask for help so that the State covers this vital need. It's fair, right?"