Terminally ill toddler's parents sell everything and take her on holiday -- PD*Poll

I understand the impulse to do just what they're doing, but, you know, a life growing up (as much as you can) in one place, doing the same comforting things over and over again, having family nearby? That's good for a child too. Any child, especially one who won't make it to adulthood.

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I think these parents are doing a wonderful thing for their children, it is great to hear about a mom and dad doing something good instead of all the horrid things we normally hear about parents doing in the news. I do however think the reporter of this artical could have kept the remark about the parents being irresponsible to herself, these people have been faced with the horrible fate of losing their child at a young age and haveing to watch her suffer as this disease progresses, I don't think it's appropriate remark about how responsible they are at all when they already have so much to deal with. "NO" one knows what they would do in that situation until, they are in it and instead of critisizing them for doing something good, I think we should all look at our own lives and children and thank god for every second we have with them, show people who aren't lucky enough to have as much time with their children as most of us do some support. I'm a mother of two, very responsible I might add, I work a full time and part time job to provide for them, but if I was faced with what they are faced with, those jobs I have would mean nothing. I think in a world like today where there are so many parents that do nothing for their kids, some don't even see their kids, or do unspeakable things to their children, it is wonderful to see parents giving up everything just to spend time with their daughters and bring some joy into her life. No one should put them down for that at all, we should all show them as much support as possible they will have many trying times ahead with emotional hardships that most of us will never know, and I think if it was my child I would want people to support us not critisize a decision to spend more time with my child. I'm sure most parents would feel the same way.

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It's great that these parents can sell everything and travel around the world with their child, but I can't help but wonder if, given all that she's going to have to endure, the daughter wouldn't rather just be home with her parents, doing the normal things together that so many of us take for granted. Not to say they shouldn't do some special things, but is it going to be the "We never got to [insert attraction here]" that they regret or the "We never went to a little league game," "We never rode a ferris wheel," or "We never saw her earn a girl scout badge," that they actually regret. I know for me, it would be the everyday normal things I would want memories of.

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You don't know what it's like until it's you. If you know your child is going to die young why not do everything in your power to make their time here as enjoyable as it can be (given the sickness). Not many people who have a child die are able to do this...not because they arn't willing to make sacrafices, but because the child isn't well enough. I don't believe their being irresponsible about it.

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I think it is indeed irresponsible.
She is 3. What happens when they run out of money? I doubt they can keep up the vacation life forever... And I think it would be far more disappointing to the little girl to become accustomed to such constant entertainment - then one day have to be confined to a home or hospital because her condition worsened.
It appears that in some cases, children with that condition live well into their teens and occasionally into early adulthood.

I don`t think they`re wrong for wanting to enjoy their time with her, but they also have to consider the future.

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I think it's stupid. But then again I'm not the child's parents.

Why do I think it's stupid? Like a pp said, some children can live longer with the right care and there is the future to think about. But besides all that, what about the other child? They have more then one child and it seems they want to send time with the one child and give her the world before she goes? So, I ask...What is the world for the Child sitting back for the ride? What if she wanted to do the normal things 7 year olds do?

So that's what I think...I think about the other child and her needs when I say it's stupid...

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Unlike the first poster, I think that you, as a writer, can say and think exactly what you want about the parents (the first poster can also get angry about it too). That is our freedom, to say what we feel the need to say... I only chose that it is a wonderful thing because there wasn't much of a middle ground. I am a penny pincher most of the time, probably because there is so much to pay off and so much to save for, but sometimes I hit some pretty good moments of clarity and I know that you "can't take it with you"... So, when you are dead and gone, you can leave that money to someone or something or, while you are alive to enjoy it, you can spend it. Now, if these folks end up on my dime (i.e. govt funded medical care), well, I'll be upset at their lack of responsibility, but if they want to spend the rest of their life paying, go for i.

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What about people that have to worry about having enough gas to get their child to their much needed drs appt so they can get surgery arrainged to prevent that child from becoming paralized the rest of their lives? Here is one family needing just that. Help with gas to get their child to the drs appts. So the surgery can be scheduled so their child can get help before it's to late. Medically things are covered but it doesn't cover gas to get to the out of state appts. Take a look.

http://www.realitycharity.com/view_item.php?listing_id=3405

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What about the parents that have to worry about the gas to get their child to the doctors appointments? Due to circumstances that have came up. Here is a family in just that situation. Their appts are out of state and needed to schedule surgery before their child becomes paralized for the rest of her life. I am glad these parents on this article have the means to do this for their child but there are many that can't like this family that needs a little help.

http://www.realitycharity.com/view_item.php?listing_id=3405

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My heart goes out to this family. I whole heartedly understand their desire to make their little girls last years enjoyable. I can't help but wonder if they realize they still have a child that is healthy and with Gods help this child will remain here with them long after their little Angel goes home. What about this child? What about his or her future? With all the trauma and devastation I am not sure that they understand that while for what ever reason God has chosen to summons Catlin home he has left them a gift that is priceless. It's a sad situation but they can not forget that life goes on for those that remain here after the death of a love one. The other child still has to be loved and cared for emotionally as well as financially... I am not sure how I would respond to such a heart wrenching dilemma, but I don't think I would exhaust everything knowing that there is another child that I have to be responsible for. I want to say to the family that I know that you have the diagnosis but please remember that the doctors are not God. People have been given expiration dates and lived far beyond expectation, please keep this in mind. What will you do if God extends her life? The funny thing about life is that while we try without ceasing to understand the unknown we honestly have no way of knowing what Gods plans are. He can do what he wants, when he wants at will. Please remember that no matter what God have the final say, not you, not me and not the doctor.

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