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Corbin,
this is very, very difficult. I have been thinking about this, on and off, since you posted it, and not come to a conclusion. My biggest concern would be that this would set some kind of precedent...you know, the old 'slippery slope'...
And yet, it seems to me that this poor child's experience of its life, such as it is, would not be diminished by the proposed procedures, and might even be enhanced...
posted by
Nautikos
on January 17, 2007 at 5:05 AM
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I guess I can't really say. I've been a caregiver but not on the other side
It's very disturbing.
posted by
Whacky
on January 16, 2007 at 11:44 PM
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Corbin
I saw that raving mainiac Nancy Grace going over this and doing all but wanting the parents burned at the stake. That is not my child. I think this coupld wants to do the best they can for this child. I see no reason why they can't make this decision for themselves. I can't say what I would do, but they don't seem to have any bad motive in it at all. I shall just pray for them and her.
posted by
Justi
on January 16, 2007 at 9:00 PM
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corbin,
that sounds convincing enough.
posted by
richinstore
on January 16, 2007 at 7:25 PM
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Corbin
Passionflower took the word out of my mouth - as strange as it is... "we don't walk in their shoes".
posted by
Troosha
on January 16, 2007 at 4:15 PM
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fed through a tube?
so maybe withouit extraordinary effort to keep her alive, withouit means of life support, it could be she could not survive.
do we h ave a Jessica problem here?
posted by
Xeno-x
on January 16, 2007 at 3:15 PM
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It is a very unsettling story...
As you point out though, we can't sit in judgement till we've walked in their shoes.
posted by
Passionflower
on January 16, 2007 at 9:20 AM
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CD
I don't know...have to think about this one my friend~
posted by
Offy
on January 16, 2007 at 8:56 AM
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I read about this last week, I think.
At first, I was horrified. But then as I continued reading, I began to see that the parents probably were not only thinking of themselves. Keeping Ashley at a smaller size would apparently help reduce bed sores. It also will supposedly make it easier for her parents to give her the physical contact (i.e., cuddling, etc.) that is so important for her emotional health. I'm still not quite sure what to think about the whole situation, but--as is the case with most ethical decisions--there isn't really a clear or right answer.
posted by
Jadelynn
on January 16, 2007 at 8:52 AM
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It's a problem I hope none of us ever has to handle.
My experience with being a caregiver came when my 4-year-old son was injured in a shopping cart tip-over and his femur was broken. To heal, he had to be in traction for six weeks, then in a body cast - he was down from Easter until the 4th of July. The pattern of the entire family's life changed - we had 3 older sibs in school. His father and I both had jobs. After we'd both used up all our vacation and accumulated sick leave, my mother in law came to help, but she couldn't lift him. His 14-year-old brother took charge after school was out for summer. I learned about the difficulty of negotiating the simplest doorways, and gained a new empathy with parents of children with disabilities. I'm sure I have no basis for comparison to the impossible situation these Seattle parents face, but it seems to me their options range between the horrible and the impossible.
posted by
Pat_B
on January 16, 2007 at 8:06 AM
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I guess part of the problem is......
where are we headed with this kind of stuff? Alter your healthy children to suit you preferences? It just isn't right.....
posted by
Corbin_Dallas
on January 16, 2007 at 7:33 AM
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Corbin
I honestly don't know what I would do in their shoes, but I am having trouble that something of this sort would have ever even occured to me. The whole thing bothers me.
posted by
bel_1965
on January 16, 2007 at 7:28 AM
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mysteria
I know.....but it still bothers me a bit...because you get excited about finding a new topic to post on something.....but there are so many posts that you just can't see when you might be overlapping.
posted by
Corbin_Dallas
on January 16, 2007 at 7:15 AM
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Success
I believe in the story I have linked, is the link to their site..........
posted by
Corbin_Dallas
on January 16, 2007 at 7:09 AM
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Corbin, the parents keep a blog somewhere of their experience
I haven't looked around to find it but I thought you might be interested.
posted by
SuccessWarrior
on January 16, 2007 at 7:07 AM
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Corbin_Dallas No need to apologise...Us bloggers are free to raise
subjects as we see fit. It is impossible to know who has posted what and when if ever... This topic is sure to make raise to much discussion in manymanymany a venue. It is an unprecedented event as far as I know and highly controversial.
posted by
mysteria
on January 16, 2007 at 7:06 AM
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Corbin
Your response below: That's what's bothering me the most about this, too!
posted by
Presley
on January 16, 2007 at 6:55 AM
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I really don't know what to think of this
posted by
Afzal_Sunny7
on January 16, 2007 at 6:52 AM
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I heard a Mom call in......
He daughter suffered brain damage from an inoperable tumor on the brain stem......she knew what was going on around her and responded with her eyes......the Mother got to watch her blossom into a lovely young woman before her death at age 16. She was grateful to have been able to see it happen........
It just bothers me that the parents put themselves ahead of the child....
posted by
Corbin_Dallas
on January 16, 2007 at 6:51 AM
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Corbin
I dislike this idea. The parents obviously love their child, but I feel their actions pertain more to it being a matter of convenience to them versus a benefit to the child. I, personally, would rather endure
reality if this were my child than attempt to play God!
posted by
Presley
on January 16, 2007 at 6:45 AM
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Corbin..
Like you, I cant quite wrap my mind around this. I read about this child recently and have to wonder.. for the expense they have incurred to alter her growth.. perhaps they could have hired full time assistants to lift and care for her as she grew.
posted by
Blue_feathers
on January 16, 2007 at 6:42 AM
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I am sorry......
I hadn't seen the post........
posted by
Corbin_Dallas
on January 16, 2007 at 6:39 AM
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Another blogger talked about this subject and raised an interesting point
She said, I paraphrase, "if the child was a male, would the father be as agreeable to remove the associated parts?" Thought provoking point.
posted by
mysteria
on January 16, 2007 at 6:26 AM
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