[tri-wings] Paul/Input requested/Annie/coroner/conference

HI Paul,
Thank you. That was a beautiful summary. True love is unselfish, complete 
giving of ones self without any expectation of anything return. 

That is what our babies teach us. 

I am afraid that  some parts of North America (the big cities especially, it 
seems) don't understand that. 

When a hospital has a limited budget and they have to choose to give the only 
bed left to a child with severe disabilities or one that needs surgery to live 
a full "normal" life, they don't want to talk or think about love. 

There are certainly challenging times ahead as the demographics change. 

I will reflect your comments and those of others in the conference and hope 
that it will make a difference. 

Thanks so much. 

barb





> From: pfarmer@xxxxxxxxxxx
> To: tri-wings@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [tri-wings] Re: Input requested/Annie/coroner/conference
> Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 17:39:45 -0500
> 
> What is the value of a human life? Obviously it has more value to me if it
> is my child than if it is yours. I'm reminded of the story where Solomon (1
> Kings 3:16-28) had two mothers bring him a single baby boy each claiming the
> baby was theirs. King Solomon calls for the live son to be split in two,
> each woman receiving half of the child. Upon hearing this terrible verdict,
> the boy's true mother cries out, "Please, My Lord, give her the live child -
> do not kill him!" However, the liar, exclaims, "It shall be neither mine nor
> yours - divide it!" Solomon gives the baby to the real mother, realizing
> that the true mother's instincts were to protect her child, while the liar
> revealed that she did not truly love the child.
> 
> Most of us on this list have obviously been directly impacted by the
> "unconventional" value of these special "T" babies. There isn't a single
> mother (or grandparent) on this list who doesn't understand that the "value"
> of these children has nothing to do with how many relationships they've
> acquired over the years or how much they "contribute" to society. They are
> our children. That is what makes them special and gives them value. We love
> them even if they can't love us back. 
> 
> If we don't recognize that there is more to life than just the short time we
> spend on this earth, then we live for the moment. Babies in that type of
> world get in the way. "Defective" babies are even worse. But without them,
> we only live to satisfy ourselves. The people who experience and learn to
> appreciate the "special" babies are the ones who are most blessed. When we
> are going through the pain, we wish we could avoid it, but after we
> experience the relationship, we are better for it. If we open our hearts up
> to those in need, we are truly the ones who benefit most. 
> 
> Paul Farmer 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: tri-wings-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tri-wings-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Jean Kinsella
> Sent: Monday, July 07, 2008 1:17 PM
> To: tri-wings@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [tri-wings] Re: Input requested/Annie/coroner/conference
> 
> Hi Barbara,
> 
> The same question could be asked regarding people with terminal 
> illnesses - you'd still attempt to treat pancreatic cancer, even though 
> the likelihood of a patients survival is low. Babies born with a trisomy 
> seem to be considered less important than an older person, is that 
> because our babies can't speak for themselves?  Do doctors try less 
> harder to save their lives because they don't have to listen to the 
> begging and pleading of the ding patient for life saving treatment?  Or 
> is it because doctors consider our babies less important because they'll 
> never get the chance to contribute to society(in the conventional sense 
> of course).  Maybe trisomies don't have to be fatal.  There's a history 
> of 'why bother, the baby's going to die anyway', it becomes a self 
> fulfilling prophecy.  Maybe, with a little help, our babies could lead 
> fuller, longer lives and a diagnosis of trisomy doesn't have to be so 
> devastating.
> 
> Jean
> > I welcome, appreciate, and very much need your comments. Please feel free
> to respond privately if you prefer. Thanks so much. The basic question is,
> Why should health care dollars be spent on saving the lives of children who
> are very limited and who have a shortened life span? 
> >
> >
> >   
> 
> -- 
> Mum to Arily Faith, born asleep, July 8th, 2006
> and to Conor, born June 21st, 2007
> 
> 
>                   Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
>                        www.trisomyonline.org
>                   Families Helping Families On-line
> 
> 
>                   Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
>                        www.trisomyonline.org
>                   Families Helping Families On-line

_________________________________________________________________


                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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