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169 Comments
- josh1413, on 10/12/2007, -17/+115So sad........
Thoughts and prayers for her and her mom and dad. - stinkypyper, on 10/12/2007, -18/+111I am gonna something, and I know it is bad and I am probably going to get dugg down for it, but I'll say it. We need to rethink where we draw the line. I think sometimes we try too hard instead of letting nature taking it's course. This reminds of that man who had his eyes, eye sockets, upper jaw, nose, and a whole lot of his pallet and skull removed to save his life from a flesh eating infection, or a girl who had all four of her limbs amputated to save her life from a similar infection. Is this really a life worth living?
- Yesterdayz, on 10/12/2007, -6/+66Yes.....Very sad. Being a parent of an 8 month old. You really have to sit back and think to yourself how lucky we all are.
- vizerei, on 10/12/2007, -22/+81I disagree. On the fact that she will be labeled a "freak" or someone who is "handicapped" the rest of her life. Also, if she manages to have kids, she then passes on the genetic mutation that led her to not have a face. Not only do I think it is right, I believe in doing what they did they are weakening the human species.
Digg me down if you want, I'm just a realist. You can always make more kids, but you can probably never recreate the human species. - anachronoks, on 10/12/2007, -5/+63Helen Keller was born deaf and blind and went on to become a prolific speaker and author. Maybe we shouldn't be so quick to decide who lives and who dies.
- ziffel, on 10/12/2007, -7/+57I'm not digging you down. I think you ask a fair question, but ... seeing that little girl wave her arms, and play with toys ... would you be the one willing to end her life?
@ vizerai, by letting her live, and letting doctors and scientists see her and learn from her, we are bettering the human species. Given human nature, I don't think you have to worry about her procreating. - Hipple, on 10/12/2007, -5/+39Since you're getting dugg down, I figure I'll join you and point out how ridiculous it is that the next video on that site (at least when I went there) was "Shake your Booty Meat"
How is anyone supposed to go from "Girl Born without a Face" to "Shake your Booty Meat"? - oslointhesummer, on 10/12/2007, -13/+45If anyone truly believes that this child should not be allowed to live for fear that it will "weaken our species", they should read up a little more on Hitler and eugenics. Or how about reading Brave New World by Aldous Huxley?
- chicken101, on 10/12/2007, -5/+35I can't even imagine getting 30 surgeries during my whole life. Truly horrible.
- syruplord, on 10/12/2007, -0/+29Also the operation was more than just a cosmetic surgery. She can't eat or breathe like other people. This is a medical condition, not just a cosmetic one.
- OrderSponge, on 10/12/2007, -3/+31@ stinkypyper, vizerei, satanael, etc
Euthanizing someone because we believe (even if we believe reasonably) that they will not have a "worthwhile" life is the absolute height of arrogance. Not only does it assume knowledge of the future that we cannot possess, but it also assumes that a persons value is linked to their "contribution" to society. And even if it were, showing compassion hardly weakens the human species. Furthermore, I would argue that such love-based relationships are essential to the survival of the human species at the most basic level in that they provide the stability required for any more advanced social structure. Yes, I realize that I'm making some assumptions and stipulations here, but I think that's inevitable in a discussion like this.
In fact (and this is a somewhat medieval perspective, I know) you might argue people like this are valuable to society specifically because they give us an opportunity to demonstrate that compassion.
If later she decides to kill herself, that's an entirely different question. - coolian, on 10/12/2007, -3/+31I wonder how her life is going to be 10-15 years down the road...
- willis77, on 10/12/2007, -14/+38That is a call the girl should be given the chance to make when she is old enough to make it.
- triscuitbiscuit, on 10/12/2007, -6/+30@josh...
Yeah, I give her mom and dad a of credit. A good amount of parents can't seem to take proper care of "normal" children- both of them have to take care of a child with a very severe deformity. Most people would look at the girl and get disgusted but they look past it and from what I see still love her a ton. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -10/+27Poor girl...
I hope she gets the chance to look somewhat normal after her surgeries. - elnerdo, on 10/12/2007, -4/+21No, yesterdayz, it's not that we're really lucky, it's just that she's really unlucky.
- brwright, on 10/12/2007, -3/+19What's with all the hype about being normal? All human life is valuable, no matter what the person looks like or believes.
- arunforce, on 10/12/2007, -8/+20I'd really like to watch it, I really would, but I can't look at her.
Best of luck. - josh1413, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treacher_Collins_Syndrome
That is the name of the syndrome. Here is what they look like when they are older:
http://www.treachercollins.org/pictures.html - Hipple, on 10/12/2007, -4/+14@ ordersponge
I think your misunderstanding some of their points. I think the point is that it's selfish for us to keep people like her alive because it makes us feel better about ourselves, particularly when there's evidence that her life is full of misery and pain. I know that we're taught that life is precious, but sometimes is merciful to just let go. Having said that, I don't think anyone here could honestly say that, if they were the parents of that kid, they could do anything but try to help her. I hope not at least. - john2kx, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12Don't worry about her kids, they'll be completely normal-looking.. Here's why:
Treacher Collins is genetically recessive. This means that if she has offspring with a mate who has no history of Treacher Collins in his family, her kids will be completely normal (they will carry the dominant-recessive gene, where dominant is having full cheekbones and a normal chin).. And if her grown kids have children with a mate that also has no history of Treacher Collins, the gene will again be dormant, so since Treacher Collins is so rare, it will effectively disappear from her descendants. The gene will always be present, but dormant.. It would only possibly spring up again if someone else with a dominant-recessive (normal) or recessive-recessive (defect) gene had offspring with someone in her family. - WatsonFilms, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12You guys need to learn about sarcasm.
- samadam, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10I unfortunately have to avoid watching this video. It is truly heartbreaking. So sorry.
- masamunecyrus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11Often times it's the people who are shunned by society due to mental or physical abnormalities that become the geniuses that further mankind because books and knowledge are their only friends.
- t1t0, on 10/12/2007, -4/+12I think people that don't feel she should be "kept alive" because she is suffering need to go read the mother and nurse's blog at http://www.julianawetmore.net/
She acts like a normal 4 year old, full of life and playful mischief, and doesn't seem to regret being alive, like some might think! - PointeBlank, on 10/12/2007, -7/+14I'll probably be buried, but darkreign16 does have somewhat of a point.
I guess it's all about what religious beliefs you hold, but actually doing something is very different from thinking about doing something.
The bury button is the red one on the right. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Okay, now you are just being nice.
- Providence, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8One of my professors had this. He had to have a fake jaw implanted in order to look somewhat normal. A truly horrible syndrome.
- john2kx, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Well, she's only like 3 years old, so I would hope not.. :)
But don't count her out in the future.. There have been some pretty incredible advances in plastic surgery over the last 20 years. - cklol, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9What a waste of money.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9SMSA
Stop Making Stupid Acronyms - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Not to be mean or anything, but I doubt that we'll have to worry about that chick getting impregnated any time soon....
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -12/+17I guess "actually doing something to help her" doesn't click in yours.
- altjeringa, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7I agree, but this isn't he place for a that type of comment. Have some respect.
- magic6435, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7holy ***** ***** Im not even trying to be funny but if i ran into her on the street my first impulse would be to run the other way and i would feel ***** terrible afterwords
- somnambulator, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Love of ones child is one of natures most amazing gifts, but love of a child takes time, it isn't instantaneous (although after birth it is usually very quick) This video shows very clearly how much the parents love their child.
When my father was a young man and I was born (40ish years ago) two of his work colleagues wives, had seriously deformed children within about 2 years of each other.
The children could have been saved with intervention, but each husband (not the wives) was asked if they wanted the child kept alive (the recommendation from the doctor was "no"). They said no, and the children were left to die naturally. The wives were told the babies died immediately after childbirth and were not allowed to see them.
Both families went on to have more healthy children.
I cannot speak for any of the parents involved - the feelings of the fathers for having to make such a terrible decision. Or the feelings of the mothers for losing a newborn child.
Plus we will never know what might have been if the children had survived.
But I do know both families, 40 years on, are very happy. - ShouldBeStudyin, on 10/12/2007, -8/+13If you really believe in God, you wouldn't say this. If you don't believe in God, then this statement makes no sense. Regardless, you just look stupid with comments like this.
- pineandpalm, on 10/12/2007, -5/+9I am amazed at how absolutely stupid most of these negative comments sound. Everyday I wake up and think that I can't be more disappointed with the majority of our society--and then over and over I come across people like those in this thread who make the most ridiculous, thoughtless and pointless comments. They try to make them sound intelligent, but really never get to a valid point. If you have something negative to say--back it up with something. Don't slap out a hollow insult or negative comment. It's a waste of your time writing it--and a waste of our time reading it. Everyone has a right to their opinion--but if you're going to negate another user's comment make a blanket statement that is otherwise inappropriate--back it up with something. It makes discussions like this a lot more intelligent, and makes you look less like an ass.
Here's the reality people--we can't explain all of this. We can't explain whether she got this disease genetically, or if it was a freak or unpredictable occurrence. Science isn't perfect, so don't try to tell me that there is scientific evidence of this or another thing. Look at life--it's unpredictable and inexplicable everyday. Science helps us understand and predict--but by no means is it the ultimate answer to everything. Neither is religion. Both science and religion allow us to deal with life and even try to make it better in some ways. But neither of them hold all the answers (at least at this point in time). Do not blame God for doing this to this child. Do not blame God for not magically making this child better. Do credit things like God, science, or the enormous amount of love by her parents for making her life better everyday (you pick which one you want to credit). At the end of the day, no one cares where the credit gets applied--it's just something to help keep hope alive and to keep moving things forward.
You say 'let nature take it's course'. Well explain to me what that means? Nature changes with it's environment everyday. Who is to say that humans adopting new scientific techniques isn't our way of dealing with our natural environment? I'm not saying one way or the other--except that it is a distinct possibility that maybe humans are meant to assist with something like this. Every species on this planet has evolved from one form to another over the course of the life of this planet. There is nothing to say that us adopting scientific strategies to stay healthy (or alive) is not the same thing.
You say that it is unfair that she was kept alive and that she has been put through this. I'm sorry, but as some of you have mentioned--there distinctly seems to be an otherwise healthy (and smart) little girl there. Why doesn't she deserve to have a chance to live? Who are we to decide whether she does or not? After all, our bodies are more or less a 'shell' around our souls/personalities. I'm sorry that some of you don't classify her as 'normal', but I saw no reason to consider her otherwise. She's a kid who lives and plays and loves. Sounds pretty normal to me.
My only response to all of you who speak negatively of a situation like this is: you must not have children. Having children puts an entirely different outlook on life. Almost overnight, you are suddenly transformed into a person who's sole drive in life is to provide for your children. Everything you do is for them. Every decision you make reflects back on them--and what impact it would have on them. You are willing to do everything and anything for them. They are your bloodline and you have an underlying desire to keep them strong, healthy and alive. And you will sacrifice all to do that. This is your natural instinct--and it is what keeps our population growing and moving forward. It is what keeps our species alive. That said, I can completely understand why these parents are doing what they are doing. There is not limit to what you will do for your child. And if there is any hint of hope to save that child and give that child a life--you're going for it.
Sorry for the rant and rave....and I'm sure I'll get dugg down for it (I've gotten dugg down for far less). But sometimes I think the general public needs a slap of reality to put things back into perspective. If we spent more time accepting others and trying to help each other (and less time comparing the world to ourselves) we might realize life is pretty vast out there and has a lot to offer--and we have a lot to offer in return. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4"Helen Keller was born deaf and blind and went on to become a prolific speaker and author. Maybe we shouldn't be so quick to decide who lives and who dies."
Wtf are you talking about. Helen Keller could see and hear just fine until she was 19 months old and got Scarlet Fever. Amazing how far up people will dig something before someone else fact checks.. - Satanael, on 10/12/2007, -7/+11Unfortunately, I agree... Perhaps I'm conceited when I say that it would be too much suffering for one person to endure.
- terrix, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6For everyone who questioned whether her life was worth continuing (that video was taken 2 years ago, she's 4 now), here is a post from mommy's blog:
http://www.julianawetmore.net/journal.php?wid=2&id=80
"Surprise! It's Juliana
March 18, 2007 10:04 PM
I know I know. I keep saying that I am going to take the time to do updates, but anyone with or who has had an out of control 4 year old can understand. We are just crazy busy. Soccer has started for Kendra, Juliana is still taking speech therapy two days a week after school, and I am taking a sign language class right now. Every once in a while we get to all be together as a family.
We are preparing to head back to Miami on Tuesday. We have an appointment with Dr. Wolfe on Wednesday and surgery on Thursday to remove her "piercings." This seemed like such a long time with the hardware on. What an amazing difference it has made in her jaw. She is "talking" all of the time now. Yes, she did say "ooh la la." Of course she still won't repeat it though. She does say "Thank you" now. Or her version of it anyway. It sounds more like "aa ouu."
She is such a riot to be with now—sometimes. She tries to sneak up on us. She doesn't exactly breathe quietly. But she will crouch down and put her finger up to her mouth as she sneaks. We just act like she surprised us and she cracks up.
Friday at school the leprechauns had a party in her classroom. She didn't know what to think when she went in and the room was a mess with toys turned over and green streamers and green footprints on the floor. But the very first thing that she went to to fix was the teacher's easel. She did not like the fact that it was laying on the floor. She is very connected to that easel. We think that she may be a teacher someday.
Now for an example of when she is not so fun to be around. I went into the paint store yesterday. I had both girls with me, but I just needed a quart mixed—how bad could that be? Within the first five minutes in the store she managed to knock over all of the caulk and unplug her feeding tube. I am so blessed to have Kendra! She helps to keep me sane most of the time.
We are going to be venturing out on a family vacation this summer. We are driving to Maine in June for the high school graduation of Gregory (Juliana and Kendra's brother). If all goes as planned (I am being a little delusional) we will be gone almost two weeks. We will be in Maine for a week and then take our time coming home. We are going to stay a couple of days in New York and a couple of days in Pennsylvania. I really want to take Juliana to Sesame Place and take Kendra to a Philly's game. This will be our first family vacation that Daddy gets to go on with us. Every other time the girls and I have gone on vacation he has not been able to get away from work or has been on deployment.
I will post another update on Thursday after surgery is completed. Please keep us in your prayers.
—Tami"
and here is something from their front page:
"The doctor told us that we needed to make a decision as to whether or not we were going to continue the pregnancy. JulianaThom and I looked at each other, then quickly back at the doctor. We both said there was no decision to be made. This is our child no matter what ..."
I have a lot of respect for those parents. - joerod, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7i wish the best for this little dude. every life is worth it, don't you see how much her parents love her..
- Eska, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4For those saying that it would be wrong to euthanize her, I agree. At the same time I also assume that they made the effort to save her maybe? At least that is the case in similar situations. Maybe we should let nature play its course a little bit more. Maybe we should take into consideration ones comfort, I do not think life at all costs is worth it.
- directedition, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7It is a serious issue to consider. We value the life of a human being and don't want to punish people for the crime of being handicapped, but it raises some serious issues. We humans now live in a world where you don't need your big brain or sharp eyes and quick reflexes to survive. Human evolution is going to be a slippery slope from this point on. People with serious genetic disorders are procreating and passing on their disorders. Where nature would selectively remove the weak, we now live in such a way that no longer happens. Hitler saw this and chose the simplest and stupidest decision, he had them all either castrated or killed.
Is her life worth living? Certainly we can't make that choice, and who's to say when in her development she'll be able to say? I seriously doubt she has much potential for procreation, but the issue still stands. - themastersb, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7You gotta give kudos to the parents.
- wundagrrl, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3She is so fortunate to have such a loving family.
- loganhid, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3great parents. Makes us realise how lucky we are to be in good health.
May God bless the girl and her perants. - supazio, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7It may sound cold, but I don't think she should be allowed to have (biological) kids. The sooner that devastating disease is out of the gene pool, the better.
- stinkypyper, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I start a thread questioning where we should draw the line and people spin it into some Nazi final solution rant. What the ***** is wrong with people? Give your heads a shake.
I am not advocating killing a race here. Let me clarify; this girl was born with one foot already in the grave. She had to have a feeding tube and breathing tube inserted. This probably meant the doctor over-seeing the delivery had to perform an emergency tracheotomy to put the breathing tube in right away; a huge brain damage risk if not done in time. Without it she would have been dead in minutes.
What does saving her life get her? A huge battery of operations that will have to continued her whole life, or till at least she dies from one of them. Did you not see the ending of the video? She had a tube in her throat, a tube in her stomach, and a metal bar through her face. Did you not see the recovery from her last surgery, that is torture and it is wrong. Take the worst hangover you have ever had and times it by ten; jab a metal bar through your face; a tube into your throat; a tube in your stomach, you cannot talk, eat, taste, breath, or vomit(something baby's do a lot) because you have no mouth; you are constantly dragged into environments alien to you and stripped down, poked and prodded, and operated on; you are paranoid from the painkillers and sickened from the antibiotics they pump you with. Try and scream but you can't. That is this child's life and it is torture and it wrong. - ragar01, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5If anyone is considering of donating to the family. The following link has the saving account number and the routing number, on the bottom of the page.
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=28372 -
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