Mom flees with ill son

soundoff (6 Responses)

1. michael armstrong sr.
   

   this is a case of a mother loving her chiled to death.

   May 21, 2009 at 6:25 am |
2. L
   

   "The family ceased his treatment after one session in January, citing religious and other objections, and turned to alternative treatments such as herbs and vitamins. Their decision prompted Daniel's doctors to alert Brown County child protection authorities. A Brown County judge ordered the family to seek treatment, then issued a warrant for Colleen's arrest on Tuesday after she failed to appear in court."
   I don't understand. As ignorant as it seems, don't we have freedom of religion in this country?

   May 21, 2009 at 5:57 am |
3. Debbie
   

   That mother should think long and hard about what she is doing! This child has a 95% chance to beat this disease, before it is too late and there is nothing that they can do for him. To lose a child is something you never get over. I lost mine almost 4 years ago to ewings sarcoma cancer at the age of 19. I wish he would have had the odds that this child has. Maybe she should think about that! All the should of and could of comments won't help after he is gone. I know, I deal with this loss everyday and so do others who have lost a child. He has a chance, she needs to give him one before it's too late. Maybe she should think about what it would be like if he is no longer here, It's a never ending nightmare that never goes away. You learn to deal with it, but it never goes away.

   May 20, 2009 at 9:50 pm |
4. Kimmy Powers
   

   How dare the media make these parents look like they're out to harm their son!! They went against their religion and allowed 1 treatment for their 12 year old to go through. The "teenage" boy decided on his own that he did not want to suffer any more ill effects of these treatments. His rights should be respected. I understand that this is a life and death decision for these parents to make but society today makes a mountain out of a mole hill judging this families decision to try alternative treatments for their son and you criticize them for it. He is not a child anymore. In most religions he's considered a young man.
   He is a teenage boy for the next 5-6 years and slow learning does not make him unfit to decide he does not want any more excruciating painful treatments for weeks/months. You do not have to go through these excruciating treatments so how dare you try to force this young teenage boy against his will to suffer any more pain. My dad has cancer and I saw him through his treatments and its unbearable to see him sick and always in pain and weak for days/weeks. You lose your taste, you lose weight, and you lose your hair, and you look frail like death at times. These treatments are poisonous to a human body. I think this young teenage boy should have right to his own body. Boys his age are fathers today. If they are old enough to become parents then they should be able to decide if they want to continue treatments or not. I am a parent of a 9 year old boy who has learning disabilities and When my son is 12 and the same situation or one like it, I would move my family out of the country to a country who respects families right to choose or their kids right to choose whats right for them. Our justice system has flaws and butts in where it does not belong!! "Leave this young man ALONE!! He's been through enough!!

   May 20, 2009 at 8:29 pm |
5. 2Nurselady
   

   I think this is heartwrenching. The family did not cite religion in order to prevent their son's first round of chemo and he had a round of chemo, but I think they are citing that now because they are agonizing over what they perceive to be the suffering of their son with the last round of chemo. I do not think cruelty or insensitivity of any kind is the answer in this. Nor do I think the parents should be excluded in decision-making for their child. He must have the chemo, no question. Hodgkin's Lymphoma is often curable with the right treatment. But, I can understand how awful it must feel to think one is contributing to their child's suffering, especially when not enough care has been taken to sit with them and explain and support them in the ways that are needed in such a situation. I do not want to see this family separated or punished in any way. I want to see the hard work done by the medical professionals that needs to be done to bring them around, including bringing in other children who have been through the same that are now cancer-free and giving them and their child the reassurance and support needed. There is no person – no nurse, no doctor, no psychologist, no one that can take the place of a parent. Let's not make this into an even bigger tragedy than it already is by being insensitive to the very real and valid concerns this mom has for her son and the very real fears this boy has about undergoing chemo. Every person who has ever loved a child knows the worry and the hope for what is best for them. I think these parents want what is best for their child. I just think they do not know what best is.

   As I have said, "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you" – a good rule to follow, especially when you are the one with the power over another person. Be kind to them. This is what I would say to the medical personnel in charge of this child's care.

   May 20, 2009 at 6:26 pm |
6. ricky phelps
   

   Daniel should have a voice in this, If he don't want the treatment.You should not respect that and let him live his life. Judge shouldn't make the child do something that he doesn't want to do. What if treatment does not do him good?What if his body & mind reacts in negative way & dies quicker?

   May 20, 2009 at 2:26 pm |