Comments on: ABOUT ASHLEY

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 12:39:35 +0000

Interesting and tragic subject. I too can relate with Ashley’s parents. I helped my father care for my mother when she was dying of mestatasized breast cancer. For the last eighteen months we had to treat her like an infant. I shudder to think of what it would be like to go through that for an entire lifetime. How horrible for both Ashley and her parents.

Before someone else makes the point, I would like to say that in the UK they are having an intense debate on just how heroic an effort should be made to save very premature infants. None of the choices appear to be good and I think that the moral quandaries are similar to those in Ashley’s case.

By: Andy

Andy — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 04:42:48 +0000

Great post Rick. I sympathize a lot with Ashley’s family as I recently went through a similar situation with my Mother, who had dementia. Unfortunately, our family was forced to take a look at a variety of factors with a cold eye, including costs, quality of life, etc. I agree there are few choices between taking care of a loved-one in the home and institutionalization, which is the decision we faced, especially when costs are factored in. I am certainly in no position to second-guess the parent’s decision in this case and wish them all the best in taking care of their daughter.

By: Drewsmom

Drewsmom — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 23:40:26 +0000

I think the parents truly love this child and want to keep her at home and care for her.
If her surgery helps make this easier for them to care for her and does not harm the child I don’t see anything wrong with this.
I have worked with folks who have handicapped children and I know it can be a tremdous struggle but if you love your child you just do this stuff because you love them.

By: “7.62mm Justice” â„¢ » Ashley: The Pillow Angel

“7.62mm Justice” â„¢ » Ashley: The Pillow Angel — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 20:47:49 +0000

[...] Right Wing Nut House Technorati tags: Disabled, Ashley, Pillow Angel, Quality of Life [...]

By: Raven

Raven — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 20:28:54 +0000

BWAHAHAH!! Great minds are always thinking alike. Thank you for the link!! Disregard the other comment with the link to my post!!

By: Raven

Raven — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 20:27:42 +0000

Excellent…As you know Rick, I have worked with kids like Ashley through the years. It should be noted:
*These treatments, surgeries, performed on Ashley have no bearing on her longevity. She would not have died had she NOT had them done.
*Many of the “accepted” treatments performed now-a-days seemed very radical at one time as well. Spinal fusions, hip re-alignments, bladder removal and the like. People reacted very much the same back then. These kids go through more surgeries and treatments than most people realize. Many of these are for the caregiver- to make caring easier.
*Each of these procedures, on their own, are not new. On their own they have passed the test of sound, safe medical practices.

Ashley will be fine. She will not suffer because of this.
At my work, we see admissions to the children’s unit when these kids turn 12 or 13…they have grown too big for their parents to care for them safely…many parents have had severe back injuries from lifting. Many say this is a social problem- that the government needs to intervene and provide better services and equipment. Many others say kids like Ashley should be insitutionalized because they cannot recieve “adequate” care at home.

See my post about this:
http://andrightlyso.com/2007/01/04/pillow-angels/