Girl Dies After Parents Pray for Healing - Instead of Seeking Medical Help

AlexsPajamaMama wrote: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,341574,00.html

msoulz replied: Wouldn't do this myself - it's heartbreaking to think she could have lived a really long life - but that is my perspective and beliefs and those poor parents now have no daughter and I feel badly for them even though my kid would be alive in the situation. We all do what we think is right and we live with the consequences.

lisar replied: I understand the whole religion thing for people however in my eyes that should be abuse. They let that girl suffer.

coasterqueen replied: How sad.

I won't even comment on these parents, because I really do not know their religion. I've come to understand that some religions do not allow certain medical treatments, etc - my MIL is one who follows a rule similar to this, but not as harsh i don't believe.

My prayers go out to this family.

BAC'sMom replied: It’s a shame what some people do to their children because of their briefs and selfishness.

5littleladies replied: I'm not sure what to think of this story. I feel sad for what the girl went through and how it ended, but then again I really believe in a persons right to practice their religion as long as they aren't intentionally hurting someone else. I'm guessing these parents truly believed they were doing what was best for that child and I'm sure it was heartbreaking for them watching her die like that. And *gasp* I don't think they are completely incompetent for believing that God could heal their child. (I personally believe that God also created ways through medicine for us to be healed but that isn't the point here)

So yeah, I'm just not sure what I think.

A&A'smommy replied: I believe in the power of prayer but I also believe God gave us resources, doctors, medicine. In my eyes that was abuse

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
I know what you mean. I think they made a horrible mistake, but I'm sure they thought they were doing what was right. People can be so stubborn about their beliefs. I wish that they would have realized before it was too late that it's not a sin to get medical help, AND keep praying that God would heal her.

My2Beauties replied:
Ditto on the giving us resources part. What are doctors, nurses put here for if we do not use them?? This is abuse to me as well I believe.

coasterqueen replied:
With my MIL's religion she can get certain types of medical help but not blood transfusions, etc. It may not be a sin to you or I, but it is to people with certain beliefs. I don't try to understand it, especially my MIL on such things.

jcc64 replied: I guess only they can ever know if the price they paid for their unquestioning faith was worth it.

My2Beauties replied: I want to add...plus this little girl suffered, I think the parents need to be questioned and arrested, they put her through unnecessary suffering.

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
That's what I meant - maybe they think it is a sin, but I wish they would have realized otherwise in time to get their daughter the help she needed.

my2monkeyboys replied: I think it is horribly sad. I can only imagine how they are feeling right now.
I believe that in this country we are free to exercise freedom of religion, and if their religion is against any/all medical intervention, then that is their right as her parents. It is sad, but I do not think they should be charged with abuse/neglect/etc. They did not intentionally make her sick nor cause her to die. They did what they believed to be best for her.

Kentuckychick replied:

What I find so disturbing about the whole thing is that those parents thought that God was punishing them for not having enough faith... now they'll probably never have faith again....

I can't coment one way or the other on whether what they did is right or wrong or what they were truly thinking. I believe in modern medicine and my faith allows me to do so... I understand that there are faiths that don't (I don't know that this is even a case of that)... but I could not imagine watching my child die and not at least trying to do something about it.

kimberley replied:
i agree. i hope it makes them think twice the next time another child is sick.

MyBabeMaddie replied: Such a manageable condition its a shame they just didn't go in to her pediatrician - the MD would have known right away too. I wonder what the siblings think...

Crystalina replied: Yeah, I'm not sure I pity them much. I pity their children.

I watched a show about this last night and one of the officers at the house afterward said they had the medical card for all of their children and they also had syringes full of meds (prescribed by a doctor) for her illness. Why the prayer then?

gr33n3y3z replied: I feel its abuse but in the eyes of others it is not
It will be up to the courts I feel

redchief replied: Some religious beliefs are just plain wrong. May God have mercy on them in their ignorance, because I'm just plain too angry that they would ignore the many gifts of medical science to have any empathy for them.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: My faith does not override the fact that i would do anything to save my child. I would never put my faith in priority over getting my kids safe and healthy.

Mommy2BAK replied:
I feel the same way.

Boys r us replied:
EXACTLY!!!

coasterqueen replied: I feel the way the rest of you do, there would be no way my faith would get in the way of me saving my child.

I only understand this because of my MIL's religion. Actually I don't understand it and I tell her that, but just as I've asked her to respect my style of living/religion she has asked me to respect hers.

I feel so sorry for that young girl. I wonder if she had such a strong understanding of her faith or if she was wishing someone would just help her live. KWIM?

jcc64 replied: The urge to protect our young is primal- it should be as automatic as breathing. I certainly agree with you, Karen, but these parents' idea about what constitutes protection is obviously vastly different from ours'. To them, God was protecting her, and if he called her home, so be it. It's not a mindset I can relate to, not being a person of strong faith, but there are alot of people who think that way, like your in-laws.

coasterqueen replied:
Oh believe me my views are very different from what these parents did to their child. I don't agree with it at all and am completely refraining how I really feel inside ONLY because I know how powerful some religions are about medical help, etc.

Boys r us replied: I would be willing to bet that these parents are not guilt ridden over her death. They probably feel it was God's will. Which I guess is trhe part that alarms me really b/c they do have other children and who is to say they wouldn't repeat the same behavior when their other children are in need of medical treatment?
It would be more tolerable if they now were remorseful for their decision. But the fact that the mom still thinks her daughter will be resurrected is startling to me!

jcc64 replied: Well, remember the Jonestown massacre or the Waco tragedy? Many, many children died because of their parents' religious convictions. I'm sure those people thought their kids were going to a better place, too. Maybe they did, who knows?

Calimama replied: How sad.

msoulz replied:
I'll bet you are right, they are not guilt-ridden but even if they feel it is God's will they still must feel a horrible loss.

I can't say the parents are "wrong" in their beliefs. I can only say I would not have done what they did. Until we meet the maker we will not know for sure what is right and wrong. JMHO

holley79 replied: Aside frmo religion. They watched this poor child suffer for at least 30 days. I'm sorry but I have a huge problem with this. I believe in the power of prayer but this was such an easy disease to control. I had a dog for God's sake with diabetes. I got his insulin, needles and diet foods monthly. I find it horrible I took better care of my "dog" then these people did with their child.

redchief replied: I, too, believe that prayer is something that faithful should do to ask for help from God in almost all things. But I also believe that God has answered so many of our prayers by giving us talented, successful researchers who have discovered how to alter the chemical balances within our frail bodies to make us well, or at least make our quality of life better. Wouldn't ignoring those gifts be a slap in the face of a God who by His own word does much of His work through the human race He created?

boyohboyohboy replied: but what if your religion didnt believe that medication came from God?

redchief replied:
Then society has decisions to make, doesn't it? For as long as there has been social interaction, there has been selection as well. Only in recent times has political correctness overrode the wishes of society. Along with this understanding also must come understanding that many fundamentalist faiths believe that anything of science is born of evil, and therefore medicines are evil. When it comes down to these arguments, I believe, as will most I think, that if society snubs these arcane beliefs in favor of progress and takes action, the persons upon whom action has been taken can bear no guilt. Contrarily, if society as a whole is right in thinking that we have a responsibility to all of our human neighbors, and that we must do what we are able to ensure that no harm comes to them, then failing to act makes us as or more guilty than the parent who lets their child die for lack of insulin.

amymom replied: This is a quote from Dr. Schuller (sp?) I thought of this joke and of St. Augustine's quote, which I use all the time in my Sunday School classes. I just could not remember the specifics, when I googled it, I got this quote. I think very appropriate.

:.Mrs_Mommy.: replied: I personally wouldn't have done that but I believe those parents have every right to raise their children the way they believe is right. Those parents may not have cared for her physical body the way that society believes is right but perhaps in their eyes they protected her soul which is more important.

I don't think it is abuse because they did not try to hurt the child. They did only what they felt was right.

IMHO it seems like everything that does not make the child happy can be put into the category of abuse and I don't agree with that. Spanking your child when they are out of line is now abuse.

The child was sick but there was nothing they could do about it, not without sacrificing their child's soul so they left it in God's hands.

my2monkeyboys replied:
That's exactly how I feel. While I would do my best to keep my child alive by whatever means needed, I can understand someone's religious convictions that would cause them to value their child's eternal life more-so than their earthly life. While I am sure they love her and miss her, to them it was more important that they keep her after-life in tact.

punkeemunkee'smom replied: Stories like this sadden and sicken me! I have faith that God can and does work miracles but I promise you that I would give anything I could to save my child-be that my life or my soul. Maybe I am wrong here but there is no rule too solid that I would not break it to save Taylor a day of suffering let alone a month of it? I don't applaud their faith-I pity their ignorance!

Boo&BugsMom replied: Personally, I don't know what to think. Too many people, even religious people, underestimate the power of prayer. I soundly believe that no matter what happens in this world, it is God's plan for it to happen. Perhaps that was what the parents were thinking...no matter the amount of treatment the girl would have died anyways because it was God's will? I do think though that many people confuse Satan's temptations with God's callings. Hum... However, then I think about the illness. She was diabetic correct? Something EASILY treatable, it's not like she was on her deathbed from cancer. Many times people become diabetic due to the things we consume...and the things we consume today are not the same things that were consumed in Biblical days...so treatments reflect the times, if that makes sense. I firmly believe that God gave us these gifts of modern medicine (not all, but most) and much of that reflects the time we live in.

I don't think it was abuse. Being we are a heavily regilious family I feel the need to respect their personal convictions. God convicts everyone in different ways. What I am convicted of may not be what others are convicted of. But I also think when it comes to modern science people like to twist the words of the Bible A LOT to make a lot of things seem "bad" that are not. Some may think taking birth control is a sin. I however do not...I interpret it way differently, but that's a whole other thread. LOL I wouldn't condem someone's convictions though, if they truly feel it is God's will, as long as they don't point a finger and think I am sinning for not being convicted of the same thing. Sinning, conviction...two totally different things. However, I'd really like to know what they "practiced". The article said they had no religious affiliation, home church, or particular denomination of sorts...only had a Bible study with a few people. I'd like to know what type of person was leading that Bible study and where they are getting their interpretations from. I bet if they had affiliated themselves with people who could accurately tell the Scripture they may not been in this ugly mess.

punkeemunkee'smom replied: I agree that when it is your time it is your time...something will happen that will make you meet you maker-KWIM? BUT BUT aside from my faith-the health and comfort and safety of my child comes first and always will. Bill and I have often said if when we stand befor the throne of God to be judged and He says 'you really could have been less protective parents' that is a judgement we are more than happy to take. I truly believe in the presence of Angels I believe that they protect us on this earth-I pray for Angels to guard and protect Taylor and Bill each day but even with as much faith as I have in the fact that they are there I still teach Tay about the dangers of playing in the road or crossing the fence or standing behind a horse,etc because I know that God has also given us the free will to use common sense! These parents let their child suffer...that is not the will of the God that I worship.
I understand the power of prayer I have seen it work but I would get my child treatment and pray for her healing while that was taking place. Would it be any less of a miracle if she was able to quit using insulin? I don't think so! I am sorry but IMO some people are too heavenly minded to be any earthly good!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Yes! Thank you Abbie!!

My2Beauties replied:

I'm sorry but I have to comment. There is a difference between not making your child happy (which could be not buying them a toy, not giving in to them when they want something, telling them to go to bed without TV, making them eat their brussel sprouts) but this isn't a case of "not making a child happy" hon this is a case of purely letting this poor little girl suffer and suffer until she finally passed away. How can that not be abuse, they knowingly let her suffer

Boo&BugsMom replied: Abbie, I hope you didn't think I was disagreeing with you or anyone else really, because I wasn't. I couldn't agree more. God gives us that common sense and a brain to use and it's our job to use it. I was more or less trying to depict my thoughts out loud, on both ends. Understanding their faithfulness, but also thinking at the same time that if they had the "proper" guidance with their faith (because they weren't with any church or group of people) that perhaps they could have seen the good in using doctor's and their treatments. That was more or less my point. I think they are a bit brainwashed, it seems...which was my point about knowing a conviction from God versus a temptation from Satan. Do I think they were wrong? Well, yes, I do. I don't think they were wrong in thinking God could help her...but I think they were really misguided in their thinking...or lack there of. Especially when it comes to something like diabetes...it's so treatable and to think they let their child go for somethin God has allowed us to treat so easily breaks my heart. The only thing I have a hard time with is calling it abuse, or at least for now until I know more information about their critical thinking skills. For now I will say that they were just very irresponsible.

ETA: Personally, if this were my child, I would have gotten every bit of help imaginable, then if I tried everything and nothing worked and my child still was called "home"...then I could feel assured that my child passed due to God wanting my child home with Him...not because I was irresponsible.

Boo&BugsMom replied: OMG...and I just noticed...it was in WISCONSIN! Why do we get all these crazy people representing our state!?!?

Bamamom replied: My feelings are so mixed on this one. I can't really see both sides. How sad for everyone involved.

punkeemunkee'smom replied: No I did not think you were saying it was OK jennie or that you agreed with it at all This is just a hot button issue with me. I grew up in a church where you said you were catching a healing instead of confessing a cold over yourself-Your words and the 'footholds' you gave to the devil in your life were something that was preached about often....The pastor always advocated using a doctor if need be though but many people chose to pray first and wait til the need was greater than just a common problem...I loved and respected alot of those people I KNOW their hearts were pure in their love for their family and their faith-I am sure these people loved their daughter too! It just frustrates the #e&& (sorry no pun intended) out of me when common sense is ignored or forgotten all together and then touted as faith. How many times have each of us sat up with a fever ridden child in the middle of the night or just sat to watch them breathe after they have gotten sick-waiting for that magic number on the clock when we could call the pedi? WHAT makes someone capable of ignoring your child's cry? How does ignorance and apathy under the guise of faith distort what we would all clearly call child abuse in any other household? Honestly I take offense to people like this who use the name of the Lord as a sheild for their mistakes!

Boo&BugsMom replied:
Me too.