tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post116875020220262669..comments2023-12-11T04:28:04.590-06:00Comments on Dream Mom: The Ashley Treatment-Final ThoughtsDream Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18351348027973964625noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1170102314995594362007-01-29T14:25:00.000-06:002007-01-29T14:25:00.000-06:00Thank you for telling us your story. Thank you fo...Thank you for telling us your story. Thank you for being so open and honest about the challenges you have faced and how you have coped with them. We feel especially honored to have gotten to know you over the past months through your blog. It was a real treat to see you on TV - it's too bad they didn't give you time to tell your whole story.Runawayimaginationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11392405682285496123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1169395463783945812007-01-21T10:04:00.000-06:002007-01-21T10:04:00.000-06:00Thanks Ex Utero. I try really, really hard, espec...Thanks Ex Utero. I try really, really hard, especially on this issue, because it's so close to my heart. <BR/><BR/>As disabled parents, we experience many of the same difficulties in caring for our children, with virtually no resources. We love our children. We want the best for them. <BR/><BR/>When I started blogging, I wrote basically little stories about my love for Dear Son, in part Dream Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18351348027973964625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1169394292549466302007-01-21T09:44:00.000-06:002007-01-21T09:44:00.000-06:00Terri w/2- I think your comment illustrates my poi...Terri w/2- I think your comment illustrates my point totally-making a child smaller benefits the "care giver". Period. There are no benefits to the child. Ashley's parents claimed it was to benefit the child and not the care giver and yet, every parent who argues for it sites the ease of caring for smaller children. <BR/><BR/>No child ever outgrows their home. Ever. There are plenty of Dream Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18351348027973964625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1169392696217418722007-01-21T09:18:00.000-06:002007-01-21T09:18:00.000-06:00About the Ashley treatment... all I can say is tha...About the Ashley treatment... all I can say is that I am so thankful that I was never put in that position. Such a hard life. I feel for all of you who have severely disabled children. I know that no one is asking for pity but please know that my heart goes out to all of you.<BR/><BR/>To Ex Utero... The message has gotten lost. Accuracy in reporting stats is what we want. The parents right to ThePreemie Experimenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15882375368535807238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1169386269674010462007-01-21T07:31:00.000-06:002007-01-21T07:31:00.000-06:00To Dream Mom: As the parent of a severely disable...To Dream Mom: As the parent of a severely disabled daughter, similar to Ashley, I believe that the parents acted in her best interest. I wish this option had been available for my daughter when she was younger, to keep her smaller, easier to care for, unable to have periods and the catamenia seizures that have resulted. Does care for disabled children truly stink - you bet it does, and should terri w/2https://www.blogger.com/profile/12300679169642744506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1169364814918580442007-01-21T01:33:00.000-06:002007-01-21T01:33:00.000-06:00I just finished reading through all your posts abo...I just finished reading through all your posts about Ashley again. As you know, you and I aren't completely on the same page on this one, but I very much respect your point of view.<BR/><BR/>What I really want to comment on though was our civility to one another in our comments and cross posts. In contrast, I just finished a debate with a group in which civility was thrown out the window (by bothEx Uterohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08873973430700597069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1169102878478664982007-01-18T00:47:00.000-06:002007-01-18T00:47:00.000-06:00I totally agree with you. Wonderfully written.I totally agree with you. Wonderfully written.Kylahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03311014761113076785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168994517319565012007-01-16T18:41:00.000-06:002007-01-16T18:41:00.000-06:00After reading in many places on the net about the ...After reading in many places on the net about the Ashley situation, I think I finally realized what troubles me about the whole situation: the treatment was far too drastic in light of her situation. The parents seemed to be thinking more of themselves than of Ashley (although they stated otherwise), and took extreme measures to conform their child into something "easier" for them to care for. (Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168985819188623862007-01-16T16:16:00.000-06:002007-01-16T16:16:00.000-06:00Thank you for taking the time to put this together...Thank you for taking the time to put this together. I have had such mixed emotions about Ashley. I truly believe the parents thought this through and I believe that they feel they are doing this with Ashley's quality of life as their biggest concern. I guess as a parent of a special needs child myself, I do not feel I should judge them for what they have done. <BR/><BR/>We do not yet know if Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17256371707801041596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168969601986019942007-01-16T11:46:00.000-06:002007-01-16T11:46:00.000-06:00Beautiful.Nothing more need be said!Beautiful.<BR/><BR/>Nothing more need be said!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168962880794120052007-01-16T09:54:00.000-06:002007-01-16T09:54:00.000-06:00Regarding bathing, by the way, when I am unable to...Regarding bathing, by the way, when I am unable to get into the shower for some particular reason, they give me a bath in bed.ballastexistenzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12543037121691838783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168959050525678072007-01-16T08:50:00.000-06:002007-01-16T08:50:00.000-06:00Thank you, DreamMom, for the no-nonsense, straight...Thank you, DreamMom, for the no-nonsense, straightforward explanation of the life--there's been way too much horrified and uninformed imagining out there. (As in "OMG, CAN YOU IMAGINE dealing with [X]?" The answer is, yes I can. And the reality a lot more mundane than most folks imagine, isn't it?)<BR/><BR/>There are a lot of families dealing with these issues, and finding solutions without Penny L. Richardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00102296070193780691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168957398676510052007-01-16T08:23:00.000-06:002007-01-16T08:23:00.000-06:00I can't tell you how refreshing it was to read you...I can't tell you how refreshing it was to read your post. I've been arguing with people at Alas a blog who see absolutely nothing wrong with what was done to Ashley. SOmeone posted a link to your site and that person was right. The logic, thought and detail that you describe is positively the best refutation of these barbaric procedures I have seen.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for being so open. ThankAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168896799563220642007-01-15T15:33:00.000-06:002007-01-15T15:33:00.000-06:00Pony posted this on another blog - the most sensib...Pony posted this on another blog - the most sensible and inspirational piece I have read so far.<BR/><BR/>I have two 'Dear Son's, who have autism, and the challenge makes the rewards far, far greater. <BR/><BR/>It is so hard to be mad at anyone in this situation, even the (completely misguided) parents - except perhaps the medical profession and Ashley's doctors. Hard to believe that this Sam Connorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13141049964749377481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168867026055663932007-01-15T07:17:00.000-06:002007-01-15T07:17:00.000-06:00Fantastically clear, Dream Mom. Thankyou. Well sai...Fantastically clear, Dream Mom. Thankyou. Well said. Cheers for quoting me, too - if you can bear to read through the other 8 or 9 pages of the debate (!!) there's a lot more in there, also - from me and from others.<BR/><BR/>I do wonder, often, if Ashley's parents have not realised that their little girl will grow up, never mind what impairments she has or what is done to her in the name of Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15436653419185638854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168840393363924512007-01-14T23:53:00.000-06:002007-01-14T23:53:00.000-06:00Well thought out, thanks for sharing. Ashley has b...Well thought out, thanks for sharing. Ashley has been on my mind for weeks. I know this choice was made out of fear. As a mom, I try my best not to make choices for my kids out of fear. Please read my blog today, maybe it will encourage you to keep fighting the good fight.Jodihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11339130503678210769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168827643417822252007-01-14T20:20:00.000-06:002007-01-14T20:20:00.000-06:00You have presented it so well. I read your blog of...You have presented it so well. I read your blog often and I always love to hear your opinons on things and I love the updates on Dear Son.<BR/> When I first heard the Ashley treatment I was on the fence. As a mother of a girl with Down Syndrome some of the "girly" issues have crossed my mind when I think into the future. Your thoughts on these issues brought to light some things I hadn't thought Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168805774877881122007-01-14T14:16:00.000-06:002007-01-14T14:16:00.000-06:00What integrity. I'm at a loss for words, but will ...What integrity. I'm at a loss for words, but will simply say, thank you. This blog is in my bookmarks now. Best wishes to you and your son.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168788932393007652007-01-14T09:35:00.000-06:002007-01-14T09:35:00.000-06:00Well said! Thank you for addressing this issue so ...Well said! Thank you for addressing this issue so logically and carefully. You really do present a balanced, sensible viewpoint, and I am glad that so many people have had the opportunity to hear it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22370535.post-1168752549335480262007-01-13T23:29:00.000-06:002007-01-13T23:29:00.000-06:00This is wonderful. Thanks for sharing so much of ...This is wonderful. Thanks for sharing so much of yourself and Dear Son, and for addressing the Ashley Treatment rationale piece by piece.<BR/>JanetAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com