While pursuing this mornings headlines, I came across an article about a 9 year old girl who's brain is equivalent to a 3 month old baby. Her parents are defending their decision to keep her "child size" so that they can keep on caring for her. Three years ago, Ashley's parents made the decision to keep their daughter child-sized when they observed early signs of puberty. The procedures will keep her always at about four feet, five inches, and 75 pounds making it easier for her to be moved. The parents also opted for surgery to remove their daughter's uterus and breast buds in consultation with doctors at Seattle Children's Hospital in 2004. These surgeries were performed because the girl will not be bearing children, so they thought there was no need for a menstrual cycle and her breast buds were removed so that she would not experience weight or pain when laying down.
The kicker in this story is that even though the girl suffers form this brain disease which has handicapped her to live her entire life as a 3 month old baby, her life span is that of a regular human being. She will outlive her parents.
Even though medicine can tell us incredible things about the human mind and body how do we really know what, if anything, goes on inside this little girls head. I can't even begin to imagine, as a parent, how it would feel to make the decision whether or not to keep your child alive, to stunt all maturity or to dedicate your life to carrying for someone who will never be able to grow and care for you back.
A highly sensitive and controversial subject I know, but you have to ask yourself what would you do?
No comments:
Post a Comment