That's a pretty shocking case. I worked with CP kids when I was a teenager, helping at a special school. I kinda liked them. I'm not saying I'm a saint though. I felt more and more compelled to help, so I cut loose.
Anyway, point being that CP is dramatic, and I wouldn't always call it a life. But it's not degenerative, and not normally painful (excluding fluid on the lungs which is common). BUt I could see someone trying to divest themselves of a CP kid pretty easily. Not everyone. But there's a bunch of a-holes out there.