Posted on 04/05/2011 1:35:13 AM PDT by Pinkbell
Twin brothers Kameron and Kaydon Hayes celebrated their first birthday this week. They both love the character Elmo on "Sesame Street." They smile. Sometimes Kaydon babbles, trying to talk. Holding hands, they kick happily when they play and often poke each other in the face.
Born at 37 weeks weighing a combined total of 10 pounds, the boys -- who weren't expected to live -- share more than a special bond; they share a liver and a malformed heart.
Their birth and subsequent medical care touched off debate among doctors and medical ethics experts who said the conjoined twins are destined to die.
But their mother, Brianna Manns, pushed onward, refusing to sign a "Do not resuscitate" order in the boys' early months. She now is focused on their everyday growth.
"Kaydon, he's very laid back. He'll sleep all day if you let him. Kameron is very curious, social as well. He has a temper -- knows what he likes and what he doesn't like," Manns told WGN-TV in Chicago, before the twins celebrated their first birthday Thursday.
"Even though they are conjoined, they are two separate babies to me," Manns told the Chicago Tribune for a story published today. "They are very different in every type of way."
Medical experts said the twins can't be separated and aren't candidates for a heart transplant because of their complicated anatomy.
Last summer, doctors at the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago -- where the twins still are hospitalized -- described the emotional toll of caring for them. They worry that their interventions went too far, expressing concern that the infants are the ones who would suffer.
(Excerpt) Read more at aolnews.com ...
Did you read the link I sent you? Here it is again. http://www.utilitarian.net/singer .
There’s an article linked to from that site which I believe you will be especially inspired by. “Treating (or Not) the Tiniest Babies’ By Peter Singer. http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=library&page=singer_27_4 .
Oh, check out that URL. http://www.secularhumanism.org looks like a thrilling site for folks like you. Enjoy.
You’re both right.
“One commenter says that the value of a human life comes from the ability of said life to contribute to society.”
This comment breaks my heart. In the twisted, evil thinking of our government these poor babies are not worth the money, but they don’t even blink about the millions given to planned parenthood. Makes me sick.
This way of thinking encompasses more than premature or ultimately fatal situations. The handicapped, elderly, disabled, etc. are in big trouble.
Check out what happened to this poster on another thread last night:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2699971/posts?page=60#60
He had a few words to say about “the religious right” and abortion. The response from this site’s owner is below:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2699971/posts?page=117#117
I love it! I always enjoy watching Jim zot the riffraff. They’re a cancer.
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