My Question of the Day for 19 March 2010 – UPDATED
My Question of the Day: Caring for a child with special needs can be overwhelming in so many ways—emotionally, physically and financially. If you were allowed to do so, would you put your medically-fragile child in a nursing home?
My 2 Cents: I chose to pose this question after a filmmaker, Narcel Reedus, asked me for some pointers on how to customize his blog.
Narcel is making a documentary film about children who live in nursing homes. What’s interesting is that federal money pays for this. According to his research, Narcel found out that there are over 4,000 children living in nursing homes across the United States. Some of these children have frequent visits from family and others do not. It’s very similar to our elders being warehoused in nursing homes, but we’re talking about children who haven’t had an opportunity to experience life.
Please visit Narcel’s site at Not Home Documentary to see the project he’s putting together to enlighten us about this issue.
Narcel is also profiled in my Bragging on Bloggers category this week.
Would I put my medically-fragile child in a nursing home? Goodness, I hope I never feel like it’s my only option to get him/her the care he/she needs, but I’d like to believe I never would. Reality, however, might dictate otherwise, so I’m not passing judgment on any parent who has made the choice to do so.
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Take a few moments to check out the tweets from Twitter on this subject:
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JoshDamage oh wow that’s a messed up question. As heart wrenching as it would be to care for that child I don’t think I would do it.
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The commentary doesn’t have to end!
Please feel free to continue to add your comments below.
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Thank you so much!
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LikeDislikeMay God bless You, Dear!
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LikeDislikePutting my medically-fragile child in a nursing home would simply mean giving up on my gift from Heaven. How about God giving up on me? I know it is overwhelming but only God knows why he chose as the mother. Is it easier for me to say because I don't have a kid?
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LikeDislikeWhat a timely question for me. I have three kids: 18yo son, 13yo and a 2yo girl. My son is bipolar. At 18, the challenge is tremendous. Young adulthood, the “I know everything but really know nothing” thing we go through at that age and the mental illness is absolutely overwhelming.
My wife is a true mother. Through thick and thin, she is constantly working to get him help, keep him in line and protect him from himself and others.
I'm riding shotgun. I'm help, but I have problems with his treatment and his attitude. It's a tough call, but I would get residential treatment for him for the safety of my family, him and society-at-large.
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LikeDislikeNo, I'd hope not but circumstances may necessitate doing so.
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LikeDislikeThis question hits very close to home. When I was in kindergarten my parents became foster parents and took in their first special needs child. I had over 60 brothers and sisters between then and when I graduated high school. As they continued to take in children, they decided to concentrate on the children more in need, since they were able to care for them. They adopted three of these beautiful children, including my very first foster sister back in kindergarten. One is severely retarded (or whatever pc term makes you feel better) and one has spina bifida and is in a wheelchair. My parents dedicated their life to these children and never put them off on anyone else. My mom was a stay-at-home mom, which was an obvious necessity.
I wouldn't fault anyone who feel an institution is the way to go. But I would hope this is a last resource. The joy and love my sisters have given our family far makes up for any hardness we experience raising them.
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LikeDislikeIf the disability required around the clock care that I could not provide yes. If it increase the quality of life for the child yes. I wouldnt do anything to make a child suffer for selfish reasons.
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LikeDislikeI have a disabled child…and just like a parent of any child they could never imagine being without them. I could never imagine being without mine or handing over the responsibility to care for her to someone else no matter the challenge.
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LikeDislikeI don't think I would but if the child grew older and I was less capable to adequately take care of this child than probably yes.
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