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Old 05-02-2007, 12:00 AM   #27
ddwayspd

Join Date
Oct 2005
Posts
571
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The child evidently communicates pain, fear and desire the way any three month old child does, by crying. While she is a living and breathing girl, she's not cognitive enough to have many feelings beyond hunger, pain and contentment. As for functioning, yes, her body functions but to what degree? She can't walk, talk or even think at the age of 9!
I don't know how many of you have ever taken care of an adult invalid but I know from experience, it's not an easy thing. Women are exceptionally difficult due to menstrual cycles and often end up, for a lack of a better word, smelly. They develop yeast infections easily (vaginal and under the breast) because they tend to have to take antibiotics more often.
You speak of the hormone therapy causing physical and emotional changes but without the therapy, her natural hormones would do the same thing.
Yes, it's more convenient for the family if this child stays child-sized, but it also provides her with a better quality of life, IMO, because she can actually receive better care and doesn't have to go through all the crap that women go through each month.
I understand.

It is simply my personal feeling - just like my feelings about abortion. That intuition, if you will, comes from personal experience in both cases. I sense what is right. I sense that life is right in all its pain and joy.
I don't discount a fetus or the woman who decides on abortion. They are equal. And I don't discount the mentally retarded or physically impaired.

This is no kind of argument but it's another aspect to consider.

BTW, I didn't say that this child would definitely end up in an institution but that it often happens as they get older.
I must agree with Doniston here. For all the reasons the parents gave, I believe they made a smart, though admittedly, controversial decision. All too often, these children mature physically and parents find they can no long care for them. Then must then be placed in a long-term care facility where they are often subjected to rape and molestation. With the hormone therapy, Ashley will remain small enough for her parents to manage which will help eliminate the need for a professional facility.
However, I'm wouldn't want this treatment for every mentally retarded case because clearly, some can become functional adults.
emphasis mine
You actually did say "must" and you did say "they can no long[er] care for them". This is important. Maybe you didn't mean to but that's the hypocrisy I'm trying to show you. It's a cop-out. It's the same cop-out the parents use for themselves because they aren't sure it was the right thing to do either. It was simply more convenient.

The threat of rape and molestation is thrown in to strengthen the case but it does not. In fact, in does the opposite. If the parents were so concerned, would they be so willing to submit their 9 year old/3 month old daughter to extreme hormone therapy and a hystorectomy which is not medically necessary?

The day I can't take care of my children is the day I can't take care of myself. At that point, having put them through any hormone therapy and surgery would be moot.

This point is inarguable. It is a matter of convenience for the parents. Fine. I understand. My cousin went straight to a nursing home when her mother died. Her sister was simply not willing to give her own life for her sisters and she is a consideration too.

You go on to talk about yeast infections etc... thats quite a bargain! Here are some well documented risks and side affect of estrogen therapy at even LOW doses (this kid has massive doses for a couple of years):
blood clotting
liver damage, tumors and liver cancer
kidney cancer and tumors
high blood pressure
glucose intolerance
nausea and vomitting
severe cramps
diahrrea
jaundice
migrain headaches
dizziness
severe depression and mood swings
incontenance
leg pain
chest pain
difficulty breathing
hair loss (on your head)
and indeed...prior to her hystorectomy, increased yeast infections would have been probable.

Not pretty.

Here's the killer in this argument: if the girl dies tomorrow her parents tortured her for nothing. If she lives to be 100 it is at the mercy of her parents. They are indeed, afraid she will live forever.
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