Two stories about medicine that trouble me.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Guys, don't act like someone has to pop out a kid in order to have intelligent opinions about how other people take care of their kids. I may disagree with Richard's opinion in this case, but I hate the argument that anyone who hasn't conformed to society's expectations to reproduce at a certain age can't have opinions on such matters.

I have no children and expressed an opinion. Perhaps I cannot know the anguish of these parents, but I imagine and sympathize nonetheless.

I don't think anyone is suggesting you must be a parent to understand...rather I think they are suggesting a mental stroll in the parents' shoes.....

[RICHARD]

I don't think anyone is suggesting you must be a parent to understand...rather I think they are suggesting a mental stroll in the parents' shoes.....

Well that certainly does me no good.

I don't get the pinch of new leather,
The blisters or cramped toes.

I think it's pretty brash to tell me that I cannot make an judgement because I have no children or baby goats.

Smashing you thumb with a hammer is one kind of pain.
Letting a loved one go is another kind of pain.
Customizing your child to escape pain is pretty effing selfish.

I am truly surprised that they didn't ask American Tourister for a
carrying bag for the kid...the kind on wheels so they dodn't hurt their backs.

[Pam]

WOW! I had not heard of this story until now. I am very conflicted about the whole thing and truly can see both sides. Of course being a mother maybe clouds my judgment a little. On the one hand I can see wanting to alleviate any pain for my child (what mother wouldn't), but it is quite another thing to subject a child to major surgery. Just having my daughter *go under* at the oral surgeon's office for wisdom teeth extraction was enough anxiety for me to go through.

My mother has been in a care facility now for about five years. In that time I have seen sights that are heartbreaking. One woman stands out. She is probably in her mid-30's and obviously with some serious neurological problems. She spends her days in a wheelchair amongst a mostly elderly population. I wonder what her parents would think of this story. I cannot even begin to judge the actions of these parents because, thank God, I am not in their situation. Though my mom is in an excellent facility, I have heard the horror stories that we all read about concerning nursing home abuse. I just don't know the answer. It would take the wisdom of Solomon to rule on this and none of us are qualified.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Customizing your child to escape pain is pretty effing selfish.

When my parents had my tonsils removed so I would be sick less and have less pain....all this time I thought they did it for me....Now you say, RICHARD, it was a selfish act (effing selfish in fact) on their part...so they could go square dancing without worrying about me getting sick I guess?

[RICHARD]

When my parents had my tonsils removed so I would be sick less and have less pain....all this time I thought they did it for me....Now you say, RICHARD, it was a selfish act (effing selfish in fact) on their part...so they could go square dancing without worrying about me getting sick I guess?

Those pesky tonsils that bleed monthy?

How was the ice cream?
--------------

There is a huge difference between a tonsillectomy appendectomy or putting
PE tubes into an ear of a kid that will continue to grow and carving out the repro organs and giving the kid hormones to stunt her growth.

Why not go for the Deluxe package?


Catheterization, a colostomy bag and the tonsillectomy for the pill0w angel?

No more sore throat and soiled diapers?

Make it real easy.

[Edwina's Secretary]

There is a huge difference between a tonsillectomy

And what is the difference? Organ that will never be used? That will only cause pain?

There are far more "selfish" (your word NOT mine) decisions they could have made.

And you talk like menstruation is some great privilege....only a man...

[mike001]

Richard, after reading all of your posts I have come to the conclusion that you are on a soapbox.
How dare you judge these parents? They have chosen to sacrifice their lives for their child instead of opting to put her in an institution. To me that spells a lot of love and sacrifice on their part, plus the heartbreak they go through every day.
I for one was totally in favor of their decision. As they grow older it would be very hard to lift, carry and cope with this child. They had long discussions with specialists before coming to this decision and it was considered the best route for the child's welfare. If you think they did this without an ounce of suffering or guilt, think again. They did it so they could keep her safe at home. And in the event of their death, they knew she would be institutionalized, and took means to prevent any sexual abuse.
If you think this doesn't happen you're living in a bubble of your own making, I hate to be the one to burst it, but it happens even in nursing homes to the elderly patients who are unable to communicate.
Please get off your soapbox and educate yourself. This was their decision, not yours. Stop judging them as though what they did was a criminal offence.
I for one feel nothing but admiration and compassion for this family.
If you even know what compassion is, try to show some.
God will be their judge, you haven't been called on to do this. Maybe you should examine the reasons for all this hate you seem to bottle up inside.

[Cataholic]

He is just trolling here, folks. He **can't** back down, lest he appear 'wrong' for once again posting such insensitive posts. It happened once, that can be deemed a fluke. Twice? Nah...that might actually mean something.

[critter crazy]

Richard, after reading all of your posts I have come to the conclusion that you are on a soapbox.
How dare you judge these parents? They have chosen to sacrifice their lives for their child instead of opting to put her in an institution. To me that spells a lot of love and sacrifice on their part, plus the heartbreak they go through every day.
I for one was totally in favor of their decision. As they grow older it would be very hard to lift, carry and cope with this child. They had long discussions with specialists before coming to this decision and it was considered the best route for the child's welfare. If you think they did this without an ounce of suffering or guilt, think again. They did it so they could keep her safe at home. And in the event of their death, they knew she would be institutionalized, and took means to prevent any sexual abuse.
If you think this doesn't happen you're living in a bubble of your own making, I hate to be the one to burst it, but it happens even in nursing homes to the elderly patients who are unable to communicate.
Please get off your soapbox and educate yourself. This was their decision, not yours. Stop judging them as though what they did was a criminal offence.
I for one feel nothing but admiration and compassion for this family.
If you even know what compassion is, try to show some.
God will be their judge, you haven't been called on to do this. Maybe you should examine the reasons for all this hate you seem to bottle up inside.

I agree 100%!!!