Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Ed Yeates ReportingDoctors at the Mayo Clinic have never seen a case like this next one. The body of a young Salt Lake man is literally drying up from the inside out, and they don't know how to stop it!
He's dying, but the way he's choosing to bow out of this life may be as rare as the disease itself. Twenty three year old David Haws has chosen to fade away from this life with a smile on his face and a whole lot of dignity.
David Haws is a not a newcomer to illness. We first met him in 1993 undergoing treatment for cancer at Primary Children's Hospital. He fought and won a battle with cancer again when he was 16-years old.
At 19, though, when he went on a mission for the LDS Church, he was a healthy young man. Now, at age 23, this! It's yet another insult to his body, this time far worse than cancer -- so bizarre even the finest physicians in this country have no clues of what it is or how to stop it.
David Haws: "My body is just eating the cells as fast as they can, just kind of drying me up."
His skin is hardening, so are tissues, organs and vessels inside the body. The Mayo Clinic has tried everything, but nothing works! So, his decision?
David Haws: "I finally said I've had enough. I've gone through two cancers. I'm sick with this now. And it's just my body is done."
But in this resignation - with death at his doorstep - comes a unique kind of peace.
David Haws: "I guess that only way I can describe the peace in myself is I know I've fought a good fight. I've done the best I can."
There's no anger, no blame, only a smile. Reading, music, his family - they're simple but solid treasures. He radiates a neat dignity to everybody around him.
David Haws: "Just trying to make sure that those closest to me know how much I love them."
David's taking a drug that's forcing the immune system to temporarily back off its self destruction; hopefully, to postpone death until Christmas.
David Haws: "Being able to see that peace through everybody else's life that usually comes at Christmas, when they're focusing on trying to build each other and giving to each other. And as long as I can focus on that and be with my family, I think that would be a great end to life."
David sees his world in a whole new perspective, holding on to his faith, believing there is a comforting peace even in the darkest corner of the darkest room if you but search for it.
