Your thoughts on "Ashley's Treatment"?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070111/ap_on_re_us/stunted_daughter_protest

Basically, the parents of a severely brain damaged girl had her growth deliberately stumped so her parents could care for her at home as she is growing older. Interesting story.

Can't imagine being in that situation, so don't really know how I feel about it.

Just wanted to see what others thought. Thanks.

Answer 1

When I first heard what the parents had done I was shocked and upset. Then I read up on the matter and discovered why her parents did it. I truly think that a decision like this should be left up to the parents. Ashley and her parents are in a very difficult situation and I honestly believe they did what they thought was in Ashley's best interest. They could have stuck her in a facility and made their lives easier. However, they chose to care for her and are trying to make her quality of life the best it can be. They love her, want to take care of her and do as much for her as they can. I'm grateful that I will never have to make that decision and I feel terrible that I judged them so harshly at first.

I have a question to all the people who criticized the parents and say they did it for themselves and not Ashley. Do you really think Ashley didn't benefit from this? Stunting her growth is allowing her parents to continue caring for her. So what if she can't have children, the important part is that she won't have to go through the pain and mess of a period. So what if she will spend the rest of her life small, Ashley will get to stay at home and have her parents continue to care for her. She needs their LOVE and will get their LOVE and the best care they can provide. If they can't lift her, her quality of life will severly be affected. If they can no longer lift her she may have to live in a facility and will get nowhere near the LOVE and care that she will receive at home. Ashely needs love and care more than height!!! They did this for Ashley!

Answer 2

like you said, "we're not in the situation". I guess you do what you have to do. Any parent that has a child with a disability, small or large- they do what they have to do to keep their own insanity. People are so quick to judge, but yet they have never lived a second in their shoes. Other 'pillow baby' parents are the ONLY ones that can give their feelings because they know what's going on.
I give these parents an A+ for keeping their child and not sending her to a home where who knows what happens. The stories we hear are awful- but I can guess that we only hear maybe 5% of what REALLY happens in home for the disabled.
What's so sad is that normal people look at people with a handicapped and think they are a lower citizen/human because of it. They have it SO much harder then us that are"normal". It's all just very sad. We should support the causes rather then try and tear them down.

Answer 3

From what I've seen and read, this girl will never have the mental capacity over that of a six month old baby. She is forever going to be an infant only she will continue to grow. Can you imagine caring for an infant that is over five feet tall? These parents did what they had to do so they could continue to care for their child. Like someone else said, they could have put her in a facility and let someone else deal with her care. But instead they are doing it themselves. I don't fault them one bit. It really irritates me how people get all holier than thou when it comes to these issues. The bottom line is you have no idea how you would react in this situation. So, unless you've been there then I say you cannot sit back and judge. How easy it is to be all idealistic and high and mighty when you don't have to be the one in the situation.

Answer 4

I don't know...I can see the parent's point of view but the whole thing kind of gives me a sick feeling in my stomach. I really couldn't offer an opinion on this because I am not those parents. I think the only way you can offer a true assessment is too be in their shoes. Thank God I'm not. It's very sad. There's a part of me that wants to say this is wrong even though I can't really say what I'd do in the same situtation.

Answer 5

Well, here we go again on human ethics. The problem most idealistic people have is that, unless they’re in the situation, they think they have the right to be arm-chair judges on all human issues. Faced with the possibility that Ashley will not live to an age over 15 years, I can see the reason for the pragmatic approach her parents made in keeping her at a size that would be more manageable. Can you imagine having to carry a severely brain-damaged human over 120 pounds? The probability of injury not only to the patient but to the care-giver would be very high. And, what would happen if the care-giver was injured secondary to trying to carry the patient? The cost of outside assistance for the care-giver as well as the patient would be astronomical.

I think that these ultra-conservative meddlesome busybodies who have nothing better to do but make noise over things that they wouldn’t be able to handle in the first place, need to have their lips sewn shut, otherwise, if Ashley’s fate is such a concern for them, they need to go over to her house and take care of her themselves.

Answer 6

hi i read about this last week. At first i was really shocked that they would even come up with that. I mean, they make special lifts to get beddridden ppl in and out of bed, Theres lots of equipment available. Instead they just decided to put her through major surgeries and medication. I have to say i disagree, while im not in that situation THANK GOD,
I DONT SEE HOW IN ANY WAY ( other than the breast tissue removed) THAT BENIFITED ASHLEY. IT ONLY BENEFITED HER PARENTS. Which is why i find it wrong and selfish on the parents behalf to put her through all of that. What is this world coming too?

Answer 7

I can understand why they did this. The child does not know the difference and will never lead any type of life outside the home. A full grown woman is much harder to take care of then a small person.

Answer 8

After reading the article and visiting the blog I think that the treatment was a bit excessive for the cause. If breast cancer runs in the family then it is not that unusual for individuals to have breast tissue removed before it develops so I can understand that. The use of hormones to stunt growth and a hysterectomy is going to far. A menstrual period can be painful and unnecessary in this instance, but there are less evasive ways to prevent having one such as hormones like birth control pills. One foot is not much so unless the girl was destined to be a giant or her parents where midgets, I don't see the purpose in stunting her growth. From what I understand she is bedridden, and there are all types of devices used to care for people like that that doesn't require much lifting or effort. So overall my opinion is that they were excessive in their methods and the doctor should definitely be reviewed.

Answer 9

I heard about that story on the news. I don't know much about her condition but it seems awfully drastic what was done to her. I've never heard about anything like that happen before.

Answer 10

I can't believe they actually found a doctor willing to suggest it, much less do it.

What's next? Cut the vocal cords of kids with Tourette's?

That the daughter doesn't know better doesn't make it right. I guess I don't agree with it, regardless of how much easier it might make the lives of the parents.