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Read other letters about this article
I'm a parent whose child is similar to Ashley, and I vehemently support their decision for this surgery. The finger-pointing and demonization of these parents is appalling! I am especially amazed at the comment in the article "What they did to this child takes away her personhood. She's a human being and with that comes all the same rights as you or I have to experience normal development and sexual pleasure." (Dr. Liptak) - are YOU kidding me, this guy works with developmentally disabled children? 'Glad he's not our doc.
What people do not realize is, is that children like Ashley do grow physically, but she has reached a brick wall mentally. She is functioning at a 3 month level - 3 MONTHS! What 3month old infant is experiencing sexual pleasure?
Additionally - what the future holds for Ashley is horrific - once the parents cannot care for her due to her size and weight, she would be at the mercy of an over-burdened questionable foster care system, or worse -warehoused in an institution. Do you really think if Ashley could speak, she would say - gee, I'd like to experience sexual pleasure and don't want to give up my uterus and breast buds? No, she would say - my family loves me, I love being with them and I want to remain with them. If that means keeping me smaller so they can lift and care for me, giving up my uterus, etc. is a damn small price to pay.
