Parents who take care of a severely disabled child into adulthood have a huge cross to bear.

I read about a case several years ago, where the parents of a girl who was severely disabled, could not move or communicate, wanted this surgery done. And they were being prevented from doing so by disability rights activists (at least that is what the newspaper story implied).

So what rights were more important? The right of a girl with the mind of a baby to have an adult body? Or the right of the girl to be able to stay with her family into adulthood, to continue to feel their love? The parents seemed to know how to keep her happy, they read her stories and took her on outings and gave her cuddles and she would smile and show that she was happy.

So why is their no funding or help for families so they can keep their children at home with them?  Even people will not adopt these children and keep them in foster care forever just because they cannot get the insurance and help if they adopt.  People have abortions because of the fear of expensive medical and care costs.  Most of it is just about $$$$$.

I know an eldery couple, both in their 80's, who care for their severely disabled son. I've known them all my life and have seen how hard it is for them. He is a fully grown man in his 50's now, nearly 6 foot tall and 13 stone ,wheelchair bound and their only child. They are both now struggling to care for him simply bacause of his size, when he throws a tantrum it is terrifying and very hard to physically control him. I know from talking to them that caring for their son is their life but they face the possibility of putting him in a home just because of this. His father says that if this operation had been available for his son all those years ago he truely believes that if he would have asked for his son to have it. For one simple reason, he loves him and wants to have his son with him at home always, being cared for and loved by his family.

All I can say about such violent surgery is "Eat your heart out Dr. Mengle." I would rather be put to sleep.

Gee, thanks, drbarney1, if you had waited 1 day I would have
been first w/ "Dr Mengele. Stat. Dr Mengele. Stat. To the gas chambers. Dr Mengele. Stat. Dr Mengele. Stat. To the gas chambers. (Bring Zyklon [=whirlwind, das heißt, tornado][gas]) B.
Dr Mengele. Stat. Dr Mengele. Stat. To the gas chambers.
Regards
2nd place
Kullervo

I call Godwin.

I think Alison has it "right on" by directing us to ask Whose “quality of life,” not to mention “convenience,” was the “Ashley treatment” performed for?
(Quote assumed in public domain: Alison give me a shout if you prefer some1
ask B4 "-"ing U)
Regards
kullervo

Fucck I think im going to be sick
Nights like these you need a lover and a cat to calm you down

Would their not be sick individuals, who would pose the same risk to a child?

RE: Pillow angels:
First off, I'd like to thank Mr "kullervo" for letting me use his post under his guidance.  Having read of those parents' self-gratification who manufacture their "pillow-angels" to please their parental instincts, I thought maybe someone else could help me.  I love kittens because they are so cute but real ones always grow up to be cats.  Nothing wrong there, but it's kittens
I love.  Dr Mengele has legal business in Nürnberg but maybe someone here knows where I can give kittens the "Ashley" therapy to keep them cute and cuddly.  Thank you,
(signed) Dr Frankenstein

It isn't about keeping children cute and cuddly. It is about ageing parents being able to care for their severely disabled children rather than putting them in a home.

The guy that Cynara menyioned... what was his cognitive ability? Will they soon be attenuating the growth of schizophrenic kids, bipolar kids, autistic kids? Everyone who has ever felt the need to be and seem grown up has the right to look grown up. It works the same way for being like a child too; if someone has the mind of a child and wants to stay a child in that way and be small like a child thye should have the right to look like a kid.


Anyway... how do you assess one's cognitive function? Behaviorally? I don't think so; there were some "vegetables" who actually turned out just to have Locked-In Syndrome (universal paralysis except for the eyes if you're lucky but their normal conitive capacity and thoughts, feelings, etc.) They just couldn't communicate except with their eyes.


Even when you scan a brain, you can't see all that is in it.

@ ana, he has no cognitive abilities, he cant talk nor move unaided. He is basically a baby inside. He loves to be cuddled and held and touched and I absolutely adore him. But, for his family giving him the love and care he needs and deserves is made all the harder by his size. I can barely hold my 1yr old during a tantrum let alone if he was nigh on six foot and 13 stone. He will eventually have to go in a home with people he does not know and in strange alien surroundings. His Dad feels that if this surgery had been available back in the 50's he son would now be able to live out his life surrounded by those who he loves and love him.

I don't see the objection to it... obviously, it shouldn't be done on a whim - needing to go to a court to have it done seems reasonable - but the benefits to the disabled individual outweigh the disadvantages. It's a matter of bringing their physical age into line with their mental age.

Somewhat of a loose analogy, but what about children who begin puberty, naturally, at the age of 6? We currently prescribe them puberty blocking drugs, even though it's interfering with the natural course of events, to bring their physical development into line with their mental development. So what if someone's mental development stops?

In an ideal world, of course, it would be reversible... but that would be tricky to engineer. Though perhaps possible.