The Ashley Treatment

I've been putting off posting this, but I know I should.

In a defining moment for medical science, a couple in Seattle have stunted the growth of their severely disabled 8 year old daughter, Ashley.

Ashley (whom the parents refer to as their 'pillow angel') is severely mentally and physically disabled- she cannot move or walk on her own, and has to be fed with the assistance of a tube. She can smile, cry or express emotion, but the doctors who spent months trying to figure out what had gone wrong surmise that she has the mental capability of a 3 month old.

In an act that is defended vehemently by the parents, they had her growth attenuated by hormone therapy, and her breasts, uterus and pancreas removed. This will leave Ashley in her current state and size for the rest of her life.

Ashley's parents maintain that the procedure (which has never been done before) was purely for Ashley's benefit, and have set up a website. This, they hope, will curb the criticism and help parents in similar situations to consider the procedure.

But on a more personal note, the paragraph upon paragraph of justification does little to form a convincing argument beyond the clear motivation of ease of care. They cite such discomforts as menstrual cramps or breast-related discomfort, as well as possible adult illnesses such as appendicitis or urinary infection. They even make comparisons to chemo-therapy for children with cancer.

But Ashley's disability isn't fatal- at least not in the way that a severe illness such as cancer is fatal. Ashley could feasibly be cared for all her life, if she were to grow properly. But caring for an adult individual with a severe disability can be extremely draining (emotionally and physically) on aging parents.

And that's exactly the point.

Their continual insistence that their motivations are not selfish would seem to indicate that they feel that the love for their child is being questioned. In fact, their web page speaks tenderly of their daughter and of an unyielding dedication to her lifelong care. But in this, they should admit that in helping themselves, they can better help HER. This procedure was about their ability to carry her, their ability move her, and their ability to do it as often as possible without driving themselves to the breaking point. They would like to be the ones taking care of her for as long as possible. There is little shame in that wish.