tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post116806060532319396..comments2023-12-11T04:28:04.590-06:00Comments on Dream Mom: Pillow Talk-The Debate Over the Ashley TreatmentDream Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351348027973964625noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1366519555400949902008-01-11T09:51:00.000-06:002008-01-11T09:51:00.000-06:00"Also, I can see your strong devotion to Dear Son,..."Also, I can see your strong devotion to Dear Son, and your concern about his sense of self, but I think every child is different. For example, my son has no awareness of the outside world. He doesn't even recognize my husband and I as his parents, even by our voices. He never has. I don't believe he has a "sense of self" as we think of children having. It is hard to accept, and harder to live Ettinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08230821659466586897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-33691629634630759992007-09-05T01:49:00.000-05:002007-09-05T01:49:00.000-05:00Thanks for the nice post!Thanks for the nice post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1170054284930577422007-01-29T01:04:00.000-06:002007-01-29T01:04:00.000-06:00Oooop I entered my website address wrong....Oooop I entered my website address wrong....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1170054078026659292007-01-29T01:01:00.000-06:002007-01-29T01:01:00.000-06:00I'm glad i finally arrived here to read some sense...I'm glad i finally arrived here to read some sense from a fellow parent. I can't believe how many parents agree with this surgery. I can understand the frustration that leads a parent to imagine this surgery as a solution, but I cannot understand an ethics committee that doesn't say - stop - I know you are under tremendous stress - and we need to work toward finding you more help. <BR/><BR/>As Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1169052466750735562007-01-17T10:47:00.000-06:002007-01-17T10:47:00.000-06:00I even question her "unknown brain injury." There ...I even question her "unknown brain injury." There is something very fishy about that. Very very very fishy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168952710951337992007-01-16T07:05:00.000-06:002007-01-16T07:05:00.000-06:00No physician or ethicist would ever remove the hea...No physician or ethicist would ever remove the healthy uterus and breast tissue from a mentall intact girl.<BR/><BR/>Therefore, CLEARLY, this was justified because Ashley is mentally disabled.<BR/><BR/>How much longer before removing the breasts from Alzheimer patients for the nursing home's convenience? When do we sign up our kids with Down Syndrome for castration and the Ashley Treatment so Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168712051913409682007-01-13T12:14:00.000-06:002007-01-13T12:14:00.000-06:00Thanks again, everyone. Connie-We had a wonderful...Thanks again, everyone. Connie-We had a wonderful time and I sent thank you notes to CNN this morning. They told me they got a lot of positive comments. Thank you for your support.Dream Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18351348027973964625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168708666306983142007-01-13T11:17:00.000-06:002007-01-13T11:17:00.000-06:00Dear Mom, Steve and I saw you and Dear Son on CNN ...Dear Mom, <BR/><BR/>Steve and I saw you and Dear Son on CNN last night. Thank you for sharing your perspective, and a part of your lives with us all. And thank you for resisting to get "down and dirty" while conveying your message. <BR/><BR/>I've expressed my feelings on that issue on the Planet of the Blind.<BR/><BR/>Warm regards to you and Dear Son.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168406570927572172007-01-09T23:22:00.000-06:002007-01-09T23:22:00.000-06:00Sorry, the parents and the doctors ARE monsters fo...Sorry, the parents and the doctors ARE monsters for forcing a child to undergo surgical mutilation without her consent.<BR/><BR/>Let's be honest for a change: If Ashley were "normal," there would be NO debate over this being an atrocity.<BR/><BR/>This is child abuse, and the "loving" parents seem to be bragging about what they did.OTE adminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09259422705314063194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168395624583808962007-01-09T20:20:00.000-06:002007-01-09T20:20:00.000-06:00Some think that this treatment is taking away the ...Some think that this treatment is taking away the right for a child to grow into people that God intended them to be.<BR/><BR/>But...some of these kids wouldn't be here if it weren't for the science of Medicine. God gave us that science to save them. Maybe he gave us this science to help some families stay together and make life easier for all.<BR/>I agree with dream mom though, that if you Jasminehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09339442170476739709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168356784630263062007-01-09T09:33:00.000-06:002007-01-09T09:33:00.000-06:00Pleased to meet you Dream Mom. I'm a Canadian mot...Pleased to meet you Dream Mom. I'm a Canadian mother who was blessed with the birth of a beautiful, wonderful severely disabled little boy.<BR/><BR/>He was the light of our lives until the minute he passed away last year. When I read your opening paragraphs about the lack of toileting facilities for special needs folks I cheered! <BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, I never had the chance to experience Redneck Mommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09947243296264284961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168227643591989612007-01-07T21:40:00.000-06:002007-01-07T21:40:00.000-06:00a chemical and surgical solution to society's faui...a chemical and surgical solution to society's fauilure is not an answer...<BR/>great blog, and i did vote for you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168204570199407192007-01-07T15:16:00.000-06:002007-01-07T15:16:00.000-06:00Thanks for replying so quickly, D.M. I know he's b...Thanks for replying so quickly, D.M. I know he's been very poorly but I guess I'd consider a patient to be, say, someone having ongoing treatment for an illness whereas as far as I understand Dear Son has <I>been</I> ill - several times recently and indeed severely - but it's not really (thankfully!) a part of his identity the way it is for, say, Trick Cyclist or Cancergiggles.Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15436653419185638854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168200400333921252007-01-07T14:06:00.000-06:002007-01-07T14:06:00.000-06:00Thanks, all. Becca-Dear Son is indeed a patient-o...Thanks, all. <BR/><BR/>Becca-Dear Son is indeed a patient-our medical bills exceeded over $300k in 2006. His MRSA pneumonia hospitalizations are on the front page of the blog. I don't always write about all of his medical experiences though. Peace.Dream Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18351348027973964625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168200091819793242007-01-07T14:01:00.000-06:002007-01-07T14:01:00.000-06:00Oh, thought I'd add a PS:I haven't voted for you a...Oh, thought I'd add a PS:<BR/><BR/>I haven't voted for you as 'best patient blog' because as I see him, Dear Son is many things - a handsome young man, a high school student, a disabled person, your much beloved son - but the one thing he spends relatively little time being, as far as I can tell, is a patient.Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15436653419185638854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168198705129243012007-01-07T13:38:00.000-06:002007-01-07T13:38:00.000-06:00Well said, Dream Mom.I'm horrified by what has bee...Well said, Dream Mom.<BR/><BR/>I'm horrified by what has been done by Ashley X.<BR/><BR/>As a disabled person, it horrifies me.<BR/><BR/>As someone who counts someone with profound physical and intellectual impairments amongst her closest and most dear friends, it horrifies me.<BR/><BR/>As a woman, it horrifies me.<BR/><BR/>I've blogged about it too, just a little: <A HREF="http://Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15436653419185638854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168193876986436932007-01-07T12:17:00.001-06:002007-01-07T12:17:00.001-06:00Count me in with Mete and Kath.I have several post...Count me in with Mete and Kath.<BR/><BR/>I have several posts already on the topic particularly with the way the media is handling the story. It has been sensationalized to make Ashley's parents look like monsters. I ask each of you to read the entire blog and then read some of the comments.<BR/><BR/>Dream Mom, although I disagree with your opinion about the treatment we both understand that Ben and Benniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12165216797183902071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168193847163567762007-01-07T12:17:00.000-06:002007-01-07T12:17:00.000-06:00Eloquent as always. I have a post up that is in re...Eloquent as always. I have a post up that is in response.Ex Uterohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08873973430700597069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168190920510353082007-01-07T11:28:00.000-06:002007-01-07T11:28:00.000-06:00Eloquently said as always, Dream Mom.Initially, I ...Eloquently said as always, Dream Mom.<BR/><BR/>Initially, I thought what Ashley's parents did was barbaric. But after reading more on the subject, I don't feel that way anymore.<BR/><BR/>They are doing what they feel best for Ashley. You do what you feel is best for Dear Son. <BR/><BR/>Each child presents their own unique challenges that parents deal with to the best of their abilities. It reallyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168147996997244532007-01-06T23:33:00.000-06:002007-01-06T23:33:00.000-06:00I like your post, it's good to hear from someone e...I like your post, it's good to hear from someone else who has someone with these disabilities in their lives. I was getting discouraged by reading some messages at other blogs from parents or friends of parents who thought this was a good idea. I feel so bad for Ashley that her parents didn't take the time to consider who she is and how she will develop as an individual, irregardless of her Thirza Cuthandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06584157711576486281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168133577071900172007-01-06T19:32:00.000-06:002007-01-06T19:32:00.000-06:00I understand your feelings, and I completely agree...I understand your feelings, and I completely agree that the support system for parents of special needs children is incredibly inadequate. I hope this story is creating enough buzz - positive and negative - that it will effect important changes. Then again, I'm not holding my breath. Within a few days, the next "big story" will hit the papers and Ashley will be long forgotten.<BR/><BR/>However - Metehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07276808432623125931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168132040205892832007-01-06T19:07:00.000-06:002007-01-06T19:07:00.000-06:00Thanks so much for your insight on this. It is imp...Thanks so much for your insight on this. It is impossible for me to sit in judgement, because I don't really know what you or they are going through. Great post!Dr. Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05207266669522973903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168121752384529532007-01-06T16:15:00.000-06:002007-01-06T16:15:00.000-06:00P.S. You've got my vote!P.S. You've got my vote!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168120599978068832007-01-06T15:56:00.000-06:002007-01-06T15:56:00.000-06:00What a wonderful post. Thank you. Have you read "...What a wonderful post. Thank you. <BR/>Have you read "Sigh." by Penny L. Richards? Your two great minds think alike. You can find her post by following the link below, then scroll UP to the next message. <BR/><BR/>I'd like to share with you an excerpt from <A HREF="http://kuusisto.typepad.com/planet_of_the_blind/2007/01/say_it_aint_so.html" REL="nofollow">"Say It Ain't So" on the Planet of theAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168109598224453292007-01-06T12:53:00.000-06:002007-01-06T12:53:00.000-06:00You said it! My son is just a baby and I am alrea...You said it! My son is just a baby and I am already finding out just how limited funding and facilites are for children and adults with special needs. That's what the REAL problem is and that needs to change.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com