Brave Patrick Swayze, 56, will finally throw in the towel – out of love for his family.
The much-admired actor has decided to sign a "Do Not Resuscitate" order, will stop all chemotherapy treatments – and is getting his affairs in order as he courageously faces the end, a close family friend told The ENQUIRER.
"What can anyone say? Patrick has fought the good fight," said the insider. "He probably realizes there’s nothing else his doctors can do."
As The ENQUIRER revealed last week, the 5-foot-10 actor has dropped to 105 pounds and is suffering severe complications from his disease. But with remarkable grit, he vowed to keep working as long as he possibly could.
"He has always been a realist, and even though he was fighting for his life with everything he had in him, he knows he’s lived much longer than expected.
"He said he has to accept the outcome so he can help prepare his family and enjoy quality time with them, and then die peacefully when the time comes."
In his final days, the real-life Hollywood hero has been focusing not on his own comfort, but on minimizing the impact of his struggle on his family.
"Patrick says it is hard to watch someone you love die, so he’s trying to do this as peacefully and lovingly as possible," added the friend.
"He said the only thing you can do when you have no control is to accept it, deal with it and help your loved ones. It’s his gift to them – to make sure they know he’s at peace. After going through the stages of disbelief, self-pity and anger, he is finally at acceptance.
"Patrick will go forward with a ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ order."
Such an order requires doctors to let him die – not put him on life support – if he should stop breathing or if his heart stops.
"I don’t think Patrick wants the people who love him to agonize over that decision. Patrick is an amazing example of grace, dignity and honesty."
