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Makedde · #1 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 10:28 PM

I've been debating with Koga, and he said something which interested me. He told me that everyone, even those with disabilites, deserve a chance at life.

I thought 'Doesn't this depend on the disability'? After all, some disabilities are fairly minor. People can live a normal life, and be almost completely independant.

Then you have those who are so severely disabled that a 'normal' life is impossible - perhaps not because of mental disability, but a physical one.

There's a little girl in the United States named Julianna Wetmore. She suffers a very horrific, and severe cranial disfigurement. Sadly, she is very hard to look at.

Apparently there was a documentary made about her some years ago. This little girl is now five or six years old.
Her parents were seemingly aware that Julianna would be born with a cranial disfigurement, but they chose to continue with the pregnancy. Now that Julianna is here, her parents have made her undergo dozens of operations to make her look more 'normal'.

Obviously, the question here is why put your child through countless painful surgeries so she can look 'normal' if you yourself believe she is, in fact, 'normal'. Clearly, Julianna is far from a normal child. Perhaps on the inside she is a normal five year old girl. But on the outside, she is vastly different from children her age.

Looking at her, and thinking about the decision her parents made, I wonder if it was the right one?
I mean, I don't mean they should have aborted her - although I personally, would have - I mean, did they consider the future? While Julianna appears to be a happy, and healthy child - considering - will surgery make her look 'normal'? What does the future hold for her?

I think so many parents jump to decisions when told their child suffers a deformity. Do parents consider the childs needs, or feelings, or do they consider their own beliefs, and put those first?

You may have seen a photo of Julianna before, it's likely a fair few people have, but I'll post a photo of her because I'd like the opinions of you all.

Looking at her, I'd like you to say whether, if you knew your child suffered from a cranial disfigurement like Julianna, would you have continued with a pregnancy?

Would you put that child through countless surgery to make them appear 'normal'.

How would you deal with public opinion? I ask this because it can, and often is, hurtful when strangers stare at your child. How would you deal with this?

Could you cope looking after a child with such a disfigurement as Julianna?

Would you continue with a pregnancy because you felt it was in the childs best interests, or your own?

Scroll down for Julianna...