How does this happen?

Today, several of the blogs I follow featured this article:
Brick Walls

Go and read it. No, really. Go read it. You will have to read it to believe it. It's about a little girl who is cognitively impaired (MR) that needs a kidney transplant to survive.

“So you mean to tell me that as a doctor, you are not recommending the transplant, and when her kidneys fail in six months to a year, you want me to let her die because she is mentally retarded? There is no other medical reason for her not to have this transplant other than she is MENTALLY RETARDED!”

“Yes. This is hard for me, you know.”

How, in this day and age, is someone denied a life-saving transplant SOLELY because they are cognitively impaired (mentally retarded)? HOW?!?!!

I read this, on one of my favorite blogs, and Elizabeth Aquino sums it all up for me.

A life's worth is not determined because someone is or isn't cognitively or developmentally or physically disabled. JT is not less because he has autism. Because that's exactly what these doctors are saying. That a disability makes you LESS THAN. That your life is not worth saving, not worth living because you are disabled. That you don't matter.

I encourage you to sign the Change.org petition that has been set up in response to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and their refusal of life-saving treatment of Amelia.

Uncle Steve

Rest in peace.

Steve was a good man, and he will definitely be missed by everyone.

The Harrison/King family are in our thoughts and prayers.

(Read the obituary.)

News on the 'Tumor'

The MRI identified the previously labeled 'lymph node' as a 'soft tissue tumor' that is 'most likely of neural origin'. If you're like me, you have no idea what that means.

It is a nerve tumor. It is not just in my nerve sheath, it is actually inside the medial nerve fibers.

So, in order to get it removed, I have to see a neurosurgeon.

If they have to cut the nerve section out to get the tumor out, I will have to have a nerve graft from elsewhere in my body (usually the leg) implanted into the spot where it's removed.

Regardless, I will have some loss of function of my right arm - we're just hopeful it will be minimal.

It has grown from 3.9 x 2.9 x 2.0 cm to 4.0 x 3.0 x 2.8 cm in 2 weeks, which is NOT a good sign.

The radiologist identified it as a 'possible neurofibroma', which is usually a benign condition, but the benign tumors BECOME malignant - and when this happens they usually grow rapidly. The good news is that they don't metatasticize to other areas - it is self-contained. So, it will only be in my armpit *if* it just so happens it's not benign.

Better than the lymphoma option, no matter what way you look at it!

I ended up at the doctor's office yesterday due to another freaky health issue. Sunday my face had a (hot) rash on it. Then Monday, the face rash faded and I had a crazy rash on my upper arms. It then spread to the full length of my arms and my trunk (mostly my back). Apparently I have Parvovirus, or Fifths Disease. My kids have it too, but all they have is the 'slapped cheeks' (seriously, that's a medical term!) and a runny nose. They got off easy!

The Hubs has inventory this weekend, which means that he'll be getting home REALLY late Saturday and Sunday nights - like 2am late! Inventory is stressful for managers, and although The Hubs is 'only' the Assistant (or Operations) Manager, I know it's very important their numbers come out well. So, here's to hoping that store 0425 has an AWESOME inventory! (As an aside: everyone go out and shop at Dillard's!!!)

Last night, Audrey and I got our hair cut. Here's a few pics:

Momma on a Mission

I just read the most heartbreaking, horrid story ever.

http://www.wptv.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=5f442343-a5ac-4903-b598-9f777910ab79

I just cannot believe that a teacher would do this. It absolutely terrifies me.

My son is indeed 'trying' at times... Putting it nicely. I am certain that he will lose his temper at school, and I am prepared to deal with some parent teacher meetings and even possibly meetings with the principal. What I will not accept is a teacher mentally abusing my child, using his peers as a weapon. How unbelievably cruel and vile this woman is.

What in the hell was this woman doing teaching? Your job as a teacher is to control your class, but above all to CONTROL YOURSELF. If you can't do that, you are in the wrong field.

I hope that mom sues that school district (aka the state) for all they are worth and then some. How shameful they would hire someone who would do this to a child, no matter how much they were tested.

The scary part? That little boy has made it 5 years without a diagnosis... So odds are he has Asperger's Syndrome, which is milder than Autism. They integrate special needs kids nowadays, so my son may very well be in a 'regular' classroom even if he is special needs. And he's NOT a mild case (although I know that may change, you get my point... This kid was not the worst that woman - no, b*tch - would come across).

So, on my latest 'what's wrong with the world today' rant, and how we abuse and take advantage of our weakest members in society, I give you this.

The teacher has also been 'reassigned'. Great, so she's torment some other kids... How about FIRE HER!!!

Please please please - go to this link and sign the petition. The people 'higher up' have GOT TO KNOW THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Fire-teacher-for-unprofessional-conduct



Just in case you couldn't click the link above, here's the story:

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL -- A Port St. Lucie mother says her five-year-old son with special needs was voted out of his classroom by his peers at the behest of the teacher, who has since been reassigned.
Five-year-old Alex Barton will be starting his summer vacation early. His mother doesn't want him to to return to school after what allegedly happened in class at Morningside Elementary Wednesday afternoon.
"I'll never be able to send him to school again without worrying if something is going to happen," says Melissa Barton, Alex's mother.
She admits he's had behavior problems, and can be difficult at times.
She says he's undergoing tests to determine if he suffers from Autism and other disorders.
But, she claims a Wednesday incident pushed the lines of discipline into the realm of abuse.
"(She) took him and stood him in front of his classmates this week, asked every single child to tell Alex why we don't like him... in his words, tell Alex why we hate him," she explains.
After having each child ridicule the boy, she says the teacher continued belittling him.
"Then they had a vote on if he deserved to stay in the class or not," says Barton.
Like a twisted reality show, Barton says in a 14-2 vote, his classmates voted the five-year-old out of the classroom.
"I never thought she would subject my child to such mental abuse," says Barton.
Barton filed complaints with the Department of Children and Families and police. She says the teacher overstepped her bounds.
After conferring with the State Attorney's office, police found no grounds for charges, but the school district is investigating the incident and these teaching practices. Barton suspects other students may have suffered as well.
"If other parents who have this teacher or have had this teacher, come forward talk to your kids because this is wrong," says Barton.
The St. Lucie County school district is investigating the incident and released a statement Tuesday afternoon that reads:"The St. Lucie County School District received a complaint about a kindergarten teacher, and is investigating the incident to determine if there is any violation of policies, procedures or ethics. The teacher has been reassigned outside of the classroom at the district offices until further action is determined."