A 25-year-old woman living with a severe autoimmune disorder recently created a powerful and emotional memory with her family — a private “wedding day” experience she described as her chance to feel like herself again.
Annie Holland has been battling a rare condition called Autoimmune Autonomic Ganglionopathy (AAG), a serious disorder in which the immune system attacks the autonomic nervous system. The illness affects critical bodily functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and breathing.
While AAG is not always fatal, Annie’s diagnosis came after significant progression of the disease. Over time, complications have become increasingly severe.
Living With a Rare and Life-Threatening Condition
According to reports, Annie faces ongoing medical risks, including vulnerability to infection, potential sepsis, feeding tube complications, and progressive bone deterioration affecting her jaw. In recent months, she has required repeated hospitalizations due to persistent infections.
She is also preparing for major surgery involving full dental extraction and a bone graft procedure after deterioration of her jaw structure — a complication linked to her underlying condition.
Chronic illness at a young age has forced Annie to confront realities most people do not face until much later in life. She has spoken openly about the emotional toll of living with a degenerative autoimmune disease and the impact it has had on her independence, identity, and future plans.
Approved for Voluntary Assisted Dying
In November, Annie publicly shared that she had been approved for voluntary assisted dying (VAD) under her region’s legal framework. While she continues to pursue medical care and fight infections, she has explained that her decision was driven by a desire to avoid prolonged suffering if her condition worsens beyond recovery.
Her announcement sparked conversations online about end-of-life care, patient autonomy, and the realities of rare disease management.
Rather than focusing solely on medical decline, Annie has chosen to dedicate her remaining energy to meaningful experiences with loved ones.
Creating a “Bucket List” of Memories
To help shape her remaining time around joy and connection, Annie created what she affectionately calls her “F-it List” — a personal bucket list of experiences she wants to complete.
One of the most significant items on that list was trying on a wedding dress and experiencing a symbolic “wedding day.”
Although she previously told friends she didn’t envision marriage in her future, she later acknowledged that watching peers celebrate milestones such as weddings and starting families brought a quiet sense of grief.
A private bridal fitting was arranged at Adelaide Bridal Collective, giving Annie the opportunity to wear a gown and share the experience with her family.