"Please believe that I do this because I am convinced that my illness cannot be helped for any length of time and I cannot bear to be a burden on anyone any longer"

In this quote, Susannah McCorkle is revealing her deep conviction that her health problem is beyond assistance and that she does not wish to burden anyone with her condition any longer. It is clear that she is battling with a major health problem and has come to the difficult realization that it can not be treated or handled for a prolonged time period. She is likely feeling a sense of guilt and duty for the impact her illness has on those around her, and does not want to continue being a problem on them. This quote showcases the psychological and psychological toll that chronic health problem can have on a specific, and the hard choices they might need to make in order to deal with it.