Topic : 07/11 What’s Up, Doc?

I agree. I thought Dr. Masterson was very callous in her comments. I don't think she truly appreciates the amount of work that goes into caring for a physically disabled adult. I worked at a summer camp for children and adults for seven years. I've had my back go out several times while working at the camp and my back continues to give me problems as a result.

On the first day of children's camps, the parking lot is filled with mini vans, with families- young families dropping off their kids at camp. For the adult camps, the lot is filled with busses because the campers coming are far to big for their older families to properly care for them. I'm not advocating this for everyone who's physically disabled, if one has the capacity to interact, learn, react, then they should be given the opportunity to grow.

Given their child's medical condition, there is no reason not to have these procedures done. If it will prolong the time they will be able to care for her personally, I'm all for it. I've known many people who would have opted for it if it meant they could live with their families.

I was refered to this site for help by a friend that watched the show and I have been stunned and horrified by some of the things I have read here. I am a successful mother of three. My first two children were girls and though they are very different from each other they are "normal". 

We didn't expect to get pregnant again but five years after the girls we had Owen. There were many problems with his pregnancy and birth and we were warned to watch for delays. As he grew we saw the early signs of developmental problems and we counter acted them in the best ways we could. We were warned that because of his delays he would potty train slower than otther children but by the age of 3 his doctor decided he also suffered from encoprysis. We started the treatment right away and since then my family, church, and his teachers have been helpful and compassionate. He just finished his first year of kindergarden and he still suffers from bouts of this illness. We have to strictly control his diet and other medications to make it easier for him.  But in the end small tiny amounts can still escape without his knowledge. We refer to these as "smears". People with this disorder aso have very active bacteria in their colon that breaks down the solid waist into a liquid form. This leaks out of the bottom in a "smear" into their underwear. Because of the bacteria this smells very very very bad. I really don't know how to describe it but until you smell it you can't know how bad it is.

So my son is one of the disabled, yucky, gross, children you want kept away from your perfect children. And he is also a sweet, kind, loving child that in no fault of his own will suffer the ridicule of people like you for the rest of his life.

Lord, please keep those grown boys (age 9 and 15) away from my 12-yr-old daughter until they are potty trained!!! YIKES!!!!

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As for the infertile couple, I know the feeling. It took us that long to conceive to and it involved lots of crying, disappointment and money. NOBODY knows the pain of not being able to conceive unless she has gone thru it herself! HOPEFULLY hubby will recognize how important this is to his wife and be gracious about it. My husband was and we now have two wonderful children (age 6 and 12) to show for all the patience (and robot sex:). Trust me, it's ALL worth it once the kids are born!!!!

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If I lost lots of weight, you can bet I would save my $$$ and have a tummy tuck and whatever else I needed to deal with the excess skin. Hopefully my husband would be sensitive enough to know that my self-esteem needed the surgery. Knowing my great guy, he would want me to have the surgery as a "gift" to myself for succeeding at getting healthy and losing the weight. Marriage is about support, love and respect. How better to show love and support than to "invest" in something that will improve the mental health of a spouse!!!