|
|
Post by Googsmom aka Jennifer on Jun 20, 2009 10:58:16 GMT -5
www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/rare_prenatal_testing_case_rai.htmlOK, i just read this on Renee's blog. I can't believe i hadn't heard of this when it's in my own backyard. I'm so mad!!! I feel like i need to be in the courtroom when this goes down. I'm appaled and angry. If you had the oppoutunity to sit in the courtroom and listen to this bull poopy, would you? Would you hold a protest? What would you do?
|
|
|
|
Post by Googsmom aka Jennifer on Jun 20, 2009 11:23:42 GMT -5
I'm really having a hard time w/ this one. Maybe they don't know all the resorces available to them thats why they think it will cost so much to raise this baby. I'm my experence this is how it goes: (they might have more money than me so this could be different but I think not)
ESD=Free
SSI= Medicade=health care free
WIC=free
DDCenter=free
School=free
Help w/ school=free
Anything else is what you would pay for any child. Food, clothes, etc. Somebody help me understand.
|
|
|
|
Post by char on Jun 20, 2009 11:58:24 GMT -5
I got tears in my eyes when I was reading that article. I think of how hard Abby had to fight to live. I think of the 80 days that my son and his family lived at Ronald McDonald House so they could be with Abby every day from 7:00 AM until midnight. I think of how many times they were told not to leave the hospital because it appeared that the end was near.
My son works three jobs. He's a firefighter three days a week. He's a paramedic at least one day a week and sometimes two. He's in the Army reserves. In addition to that during harvest season he sometimes helps various neighbors. He wouldn't have it any other way because he and his wife will provide Abby with everything they possibly can to help her, and they will consider it an honor to do so.
|
|
|
|
Post by Googsmom aka Jennifer on Jun 20, 2009 12:37:24 GMT -5
{{{Char}}}} I guess I can't figure out if i'm mad at the parents or mad at the community for not having resorces readily available for parents like us.
One of the mom's at play group is a nurse at this hosp. She tells me if she's at work they will call her in to talk w/ the parents. I asked her one day if they had a good new parent packet. Sadly, they don't have any packets. I now know this cannot wait any longer. I need to get the new parent packet rolling and distrubuted about. Maybe this is my sign?!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Chris on Jun 20, 2009 15:03:17 GMT -5
 I feel sorry for the child. I had something similar happen to me when I was pregnant with Sarah. I had an amnio and they called to say I had a NORMAL little girl. I was thrilled since the amnio showed a thickened nuchal fold. We celebrated and shared the good news with everyone. The difference in our story was they called two days later to say they made a mistake. After more cells had grown they discovered the extra chromosome. They thought she had Mosaic Ds but when they looked at the first few cells they discovered that there was that extra 21st chromosome. I never considered suing the doctor or hospital. Sarah had Ds from conception, the doctors didn't cause it. Honestly, I can't imagine wishing my child had never been born. We are blessed to be her parents. ;D I just don't get these parents. Chris
|
|
|
|
Post by CC on Jun 20, 2009 21:58:35 GMT -5
Hmmm well first I will say how sad this whole story is "ESD=Free SSI= Medicade=health care free WIC=free DDCenter=free School=free Help w/ school=free" Well here only thing that was free for my guy was EI and school. Chris gets no benefits what so ever besides school. At 18 he will qualify for SSI, if there is still money in there  Not sure the way the economy is these days  I do personally believe it does cost way more for one with a disability BUT with that said so what, it is what it is and if your child was born fine and God for bid something happen and it cost more what would you do get rid of them? NO of course not. A child going to a top college will cost tons more then say if they went to a community college. So what all kids are individuals and all kids cost different to raise for one reason or another. Chris said " Ds from conception, the doctors didn't cause it" Exactly I agree totally with that and to sue these doctors is just insane in my mind and another reason why health insurance is so freaking expensive. I think its a shame this has come to this ... BUT with that all said, not knowing the parents I won't judge them, maybe pray for them. Maybe just maybe they hooked up with some attorney that said you know ... KWIM? Working for attorneys for 10 years I can honestly say there are some low life attorneys out there. Most all here know I am pro choice but this child is here and its no fault of any doctor or any kind of mal practice, least in my mind. I don't know everything but to me this law suit just seems wrong and I am guessing they the parents were advised wrong by someone to go through with it  Seems this day and age some people will sue for anything and I honestly will never understand If I could take the DS away from Chris you bet in a heart beat but no way is he a burden, a character YES LOL but a burden NO WAY. If they truly feel they can't provide for their child then adoption is an option, just saying... K, I am rambling here sorry, I just don't understand this at all CC~
|
|
|
|
Post by ALLISA on Jun 21, 2009 12:51:49 GMT -5
I'm speechless on this one !
Sounds like they are just trying to come up with some compensation for themselves.
If the thought is ...I can't do this....or ....I don't want to do this....why not put baby up for adoption ? Why keep it and say " now we need 14 million dollars" ?
There are no guarantees in life.....what if you have a perfectly healthy baby in all sense....and they develop Autism at the age of 2 ( as 1 out of 150 kids do !) Who do you sue ?
I feel horribly sad for this child. To one day understand that her parents went into court and said " We would have been better off if we terminated her life @ conception".....
I'm back to being speechless !
|
|
|
|
Post by Googsmom aka Jennifer on Jun 21, 2009 13:36:27 GMT -5
CC, I totally get that part too. I know that not everyone qualifies for the services. I understand that there are families who struggle deeply to provide for their kids. I read thier blogs, etc, I see it. I cry for them. I wish it was different. Sadly, it happens. I just think if their was more out there to help these parents we wouldn't have to read stories like this. It is my mission to seek out parents who are struggling and help them. Try to help them see it's ok.
I thought the same thing Allisa. There are no guarantees in life at all. Take Mary girl for instance. Born the cutest thing around only to have an ADHD diagnosis and thrown into the world of Spec Ed and learning disabilities. Would I change it. Nope. Make's Mary who she is. Just as Ds makes Brookster who she is. They both are perfectly perfect. I'm just sad this is happining. I knew Brook would have Ds. I knew this would be something that changed the way I did things. I knew I would keep her. I prayed like you wouldn't believe to have a little googs like Brook.
I do not know the feelings of finding out at birth. I only know my situation. I just want to {{{HUG}}}} new parents and offer them some hope. Thats why I made Brook a blog. Post's mostly all about Brook and her adventures and how "normal" (no laughing) our life is.
I wish I could sit with this family for the afternoon.
|
|
|
|
Post by alisonzmom on Jun 21, 2009 15:31:36 GMT -5
I recently read the book "Handle with Care" by Jodi Picoult. It deals with a very similar situation. I know Jackie has also read this book. It involves a child with a different DX - brittle bone disease - but the parents also sued for wrongful birth. It was a very emotional read for me.
I don't know what the answer is to this one, I only know that I knew before Alison was born that she had DS, never considered terminating, and have never regretted or questioned that decision.
It is such a personal and controversial topic. Hopefully this won't turn into hornet's nest!
Barb
|
|
|
|
Post by ALLISA on Jun 21, 2009 18:04:30 GMT -5
Is that a new Jodi Picoult book ? I thought I had read alll of hers & don't remember that one.....
|
|
|
|
Post by Emilysmom on Jun 21, 2009 18:06:22 GMT -5
I avoided reading this article, because I feared it would upset me.........then I decided to go head and read it today. And yes.....very emotional, controversial, and upsetting.
I would not want to be on that jury. I would not want to be in the court room. Can't begin to understand the parents' way of thinking. As others have said...there are no guarantees in life; ever. Things can happen at ANY time to drastically increase the costs involved in raising your child. Some people have extremely intelligent and purpose-driven children who grow up and get most of their college expenses paid by scholarships. Other people spend a ton of money making sure their children go to the best schools, but pay privately because no scholarships were available to their child.......lower grades, etc. There is no way to compare the expense of any child to another. Some kids with Ds have very little in the way of medical expenses......others have huge medical bills.
But one thing that stinks to me in this situation..........just seems like one more (as if there needed to be one more) "reason" for people to abort as soon as they get the prenatal Ds diagnosis. We already have statistics that show that somewhere close to 90% of those who receive a prenatal diagnosis, choose to end the pregnancy.
One comment at the end of the article was:
"Just wait until we have government run health care and it is decided that you must have an abortion because the childs health care expenses would be better spent on others. "
Shouldn't this one fall in the category of "frivolous lawsuits"?
Jennifer..........please come back later and tell us that these parents do not win this lawsuit.
|
|
|
|
Post by Emilysmom on Jun 21, 2009 18:15:13 GMT -5
Jennifer,
There are many differences in what is offered to various children with disabilities and some of it is "income based". (SSI, WIC, etc). But much of what our children really need IS provided through the school system..............speech therapy services, communication devices to help those with speech concerns, extended school sessions that are designed to help children with special needs to achieve their own goals are just a few of these. We have personally received some of these things for Emily, which we never would have received from the school system if she did not have Down syndrome. Many times, we have received them because we had to "fight" for it; not that it was offered to her. But there ARE things/services that can be obtained for children with Ds that are not income-based.......possibly things that this couple have already benefitted from for their daughter.
Just a shame on so many levels.
|
|
|
|
Post by steffipoo on Jun 21, 2009 19:51:49 GMT -5
WOW UNREAL!!!! susan u are funny cause I read that response too and LOVED it. Although my personal favorite response from the letters to the editor is
"Maybe they should award some money to the girl and find her some better parents."
I could go on and on dissecting almost every paragraph to bits but thought this line said it best.
(((HUGS))) Steff
|
|
|
|
Post by Googsmom aka Jennifer on Jun 21, 2009 22:18:01 GMT -5
And b/c this is just so mindboggling to me I brought it up to my sister in law at dinner tonight. I couldn't wait for this anwser  She is worried that if these parents do win something from this reeeeediculous lawsuit, then no doctors will want to see prego women who know already and then no doctors will want to see our kids b/c someone will sue them if something isn't right. I never thought of that. That sucks too. This is just all too much. I hope with all my being these parents don't win this case. Judges and doctors are just that, people who grew up, went to school and found a good career, they are not God. I'm still undecided as to whether I will go see this case. I could. I want to. It's 1/2 hr away w/ good traffic. Could I contain myself and not bawl like a baby? I don't know? |
|
|
|
Post by laurasnowbird on Jun 21, 2009 22:36:43 GMT -5
SNARL!!!!!
Seems there's no emoticon with fangs, maybe that's a good thing.
This is basically a wrongful life suit. Yet the article says "Their attorney, David K. Miller, said the toddler is as dear to them as their two older children".
How can your child who is as "dear to them" as their other kids possibly be called a wrongful life? If that toddler is a wrongful life, then their other kids must be as well. Maybe someone else ought to be parenting ALL of their children. Someone with a heart perhaps. Those people need to see the Wizard.
Sheesh.
|
|
I feel sorry for the child. 
Not sure the way the economy is these days 
Seems this day and age some people will sue for anything and I honestly will never understand 
&
Susan, Proud mom of Michael (32), Justin (25) Emily (22ds), and Jordan (20).
She is worried that if these parents do win something from this reeeeediculous lawsuit, then no doctors will want to see prego women who know already and then no doctors will want to see our kids b/c someone will sue them if something isn't right. I never thought of that. That sucks too.