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Pillow Talk

• January 10th, 2007

A nine girl old girl is loved by her parents. Such a strong and enduring love that they sought a treatment for her that involved the removal of her uterus, breast buds and associated milk glands as well as her appendix. Once this was done they then authorized hormone treatment that would stunt her growth and fuse her bone plates so she would not grow in to a adult, but remain physically a child.

Rationale? Well the uterus was removed because she would never need it and she could be relieved from the curse of menstruation. The breast buds were sliced away because they may cause her discomfort when fully developed and worse yet, incite others to molest her. The appendix was an afterthought, but in case if eve became inflamed and she was unable to communicate the pain, they thought it best. And finally the hormone treatment was administered to keep her small, easily carried and moved about, the same type of treatment used for teenage girls in the 60s who were growing too tall for their male counterparts.

Reading this without putting “with disabilities” in the first sentence would most likely create outrage… yet with those two words medical doctors, the ethical hospital panel and many parents of children with disabilities think it makes perfect sense. Butcher a human being because it’s best for them. Refuse an individual from growing in to an adult because it’s best for them. Control human beings who do “not fit” because it is best for them. Why is this so familiar? Because it’s been going on at different levels for centuries.

I am so distressed by Ashley the “Pillow Angel” that I am almost unable to comment on this situation… yet I must, I am compelled.

What if Ashley had been named Adam, would the testicles be removed? I wonder. Why not take off her arms and legs; she is not using them either? Visions of the movie “Boxing Helena” dances in my head.

OK, rant over. This is just one more example, albeit a tragic one that so accurately reflects the state of affairs for people with disabilities. With all the talk, person centered planning, being in control, money following the person… it’s not good enough, it’s not good enough, it’s not good enough… it’s just not good enough. Because somewhere in Seattle a family feels alone and without supports and thinks carving their daughter up will make things better.