Pillow Angel
January 9th, 2007 by E. I. SanchezPillow Angel
I am the parent of two beautiful children. They are healthy, loving, and happy. My deepest desire is to raise them just like that -- preventing every ill, evil, and tear.
What happens then if they ever got sick – permanently sick? Wouldn’t I do all that is possible to heal them, to ease their pain, and to provide the best quality of life? Yes – of course. But “Yes” gets complicated, and Ashley’s treatment is such story.
[A] nine-year-old, named Ashley, has the mental ability of a three-month-old baby and cannot walk or talk. Along with hormone doses to limit her growth, Ashley's parents also opted for surgery to block breast growth and had her uterus and appendix removed. They say the treatment will help to improve her quality of life (BBC).
Compassion & love
wheelchairprincess.com makes the point that stopping Ashley's grow could be a mistake since we don't know if the prognosis was accurate or what the future holds (e.g. medical breakthroughs). She is right.
"I am physically disabled and I know a lot of other people with physical disabilities. Once or twice I have been faced with people who assumed I also have cognitive difficulties but I also know a few people who have CP (and other disabilities) to such an extent that this is a regular occurrence for them. I also know several people with learning disabilities (less severe than Ashley’s appear to be) and I would hate to think that they would be subjected to part of the Ashley Treatment. They are all valid members of society and so is Ashley. They and Ashley deserve to be treated as such and not reduced to permanent childhood. (wheelchairprincess.com)
Mother Knows Best
A parent's love is amazing, and Ashley’s parents have expressed theirs.
The Bigger Picture
Let us not pass judgment on Ashley's parents. For how can we look into Ashley’s eyes and tell her she's going to be all right? How can we look at her parents’ eyes and ask them – what were you thinking? No one can’t. Only God can do that, and we trust on his Compassion & Love. He sees the bigger picture.
Pray for Ashley and her parents that God may be with them.
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