Posted on 05/16/2014 11:11:20 AM PDT by rickmichaels
Makayla Sault is only 10 years old, but has already had to make life and death decisions.
She and her parents, Ken and Sonya Sault, have decided to forgo chemotherapy and instead use traditional medicine to fight leukemia.
“I am writing this letter to tell you that this chemo is killing my body and I cannot take it anymore,” she wrote to her doctors at the McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton.
Makayla was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in January. Her doctors told her family that she would have a 75 per cent chance of survival if she continued treatment. If not, they warned that her situation could become dire.
“They basically said she would have 100 per cent relapse and she would die if we discontinued chemotherapy. And that going the route of traditional medicine has zero per cent success rate,” said Sonya Sault.
The hospital has referred Makayla’s case to the Children’s Aid Society, sparking fears that she may be apprehended and forced back into treatment.
“We just felt so scared that they could actually come in and remove our children from a home where we are loving them and caring for them and we want what’s best for them,” said Sonya Sault.
The Saults are from the New Credit First Nation near Caledonia, Ont. Their chief and council are supporting the family’s decision.
“We’re not going to allow any other agency to come in and apprehend our children. We went through that in the '40s and '50s and we’re not going to allow that again,” said Chief Bryan Laforme.
The Saults said their community has also created a group called the "Makayla defence force," a group of hundreds of community members ready to act if Children's Aid attempts to apprehend her.
“If someone does try to take Makayla away we are assured 100 per cent that people will be there to stop apprehension," said Sonya Sault. "People know the consequences and they’re willing to stand in and protect her at all costs.… If that’s what it comes down to, they need to be physical. We’re going to do what it takes to make sure that our daughter is protected.”
The Children’s Aid Society says it has a good working relationship with the New Credit First Nation and hopes to find a compromise. However, if a child is deemed to be in imminent danger, the society can act to remove a child.
“Obviously, we try to bring kids into care with the knowledge and consent of the chief and council. But there are situations when we are allowed to do what we need to do to save a child’s life.” said Andrew Koster, executive director of the Children’s Aid Society of Brant.
During the 11 weeks of chemotherapy, Makayla experienced severe side-effects that landed her in the intensive care unit.
“It's a mother's worst nightmare.… I remember I would just watch her, and listening to her pray, ‘Oh, God. Come and get me, come and take me from here.’ She said, ‘Mom,
[it’s] not the leukemia but it is the chemo that is going to kill me.'”
After Makayla said she had a spiritual encounter in her hospital room, she begged her parents not to make her return.
“I know that what I have can kill me but … Jesus came into my room and told me not to be afraid, so if I live or if I die, I am not afraid.”
The Saults won’t elaborate on the exact medicine Makayla is using but they feel it is already working.
“There are people in our community who have been on traditional medicines and are well today and are thriving. We know that our traditional medicines work. We know that our daughter is going to be OK.” says Sonya Sault.
The Children’s Aid Society is hoping to schedule a meeting with the family next week to discuss a possible compromise.
In 2008, a Hamilton boy was taken into care after he and his family refused chemotherapy for leukemia.
ALL is the most common form of childhood leukemia. It has a 90%+ cure rate with best practices at the top children’s cancer centers.
I hope you had a surgeon remove the tumor.
I’m not questioning your decision at all, but as a matter of interest, my mother was diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer at the age of 79. She had started smoking at age 17 and was a two-pack-a-day smoker all her life. She quit when she was diagnosed and went through months of chemo and radiation. Although it took its effects on her (she lost about 70 lbs. due to the treatment), it saved her life. I’m happy to say that at age 83, she’s alive and kicking. She absolutely loved the orchid I got her for Mother’s Day!!!
Umm, hate to break it to ya, but when fighting cancer, chemo IS traditional medicine.
That’s good. I’d hate to have you die having never eaten a Twinkie...
"I sent you two boats and a helicopter."
“I hope you had a surgeon remove the tumor.”
Hell no!
Shouldn’t her parents and doctors be making these decisions and not a 10-year old girl?
If I live another 20 years i’ll still die without eating a twinkie!!!
depends on the type of cancer.
Mrs. Joe's Grandmother had a tumor on her neck, and was told it was inoperable. The Medicine man was called in, and took a small, freshly killed bird, skinned and gutted it, and stuffed the body cavity with herbs he had brought with him. The bird was used as a poultice over the spot where the tumor was. When it was removed some hours later, the bird's carcass was full of tiny worms, and the tumor was gone. Gramma lived another decade, to finally die at a ripe old age. The doctor who had diagnosed the tumor could not explain it.
BTW, naturally occurring substances cannot be patented, but are often the source for pharmaceuticals which can be. While the main active ingredients may have been isolated and synthesized, it may be that other ingredients in the natural version enhance good effects and mitigate bad ones.
Until we get over the white coat dogma and the pure profit motive, we'll never know.
out of the eight years they go to college, part of that time must be taking courses on how to lie and sell chemotherapy and radiation.
Tough call and Makayla’s clearly a tough little girl. I hope she lives. Prayers for her survival.
In her situation, God forbid, I might make the same choice.
“Spontaneous remission” of cancer frequently follows an episode of high fever.
those “tiny worms” were probably maggots.
In a freshly skinned bird, in just a few hours? It takes a lot of fly eggs to make maggots and it takes time. That just wasn’t there.
Like what?
Very interesting, Smokin’Joe.
I once had an M.D. who would never prescribe meds, used acupuncture instead. Worked for me for every ailment. Point is, modern medicine is “alternative” medicine; other healing systems have been working for millennia.
And yet, it’s a tough call when chemo and radiation have such a good record in cases like this — someone mentioned 90% cure rate.
So what happened??? What did you do instead of the chemo and radiation, if anything? Are you okay now? How long ago was this?
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