Dick Hoyt is an amazing father who has acheived extraordinary things with, and for, his disabled son Rick. Their website is at Team Hoyt and there is an amazing article and video at http://cjcphoto.com/can/
The stories don’t tell of the frustration they must have felt, not only in getting resources, but in building a normal life for the family, in caring for their son. Their efforts have been worthwile as Rick has acheived, in his own right, more than many an able bodied person.
All the hoopla about the run, swim and cycle hides the day to day efforts.
It’s that struggle and pain that’s prompted the British to consider adopting the same stance as the Dutch in allowing the sickest newborns to succumb to their illnesses and disabilities. See [Royal] College urges euthanasia for sickest newborns. In the olden days this used to happen anyway, so it’s nothing new.
What we need to consider is whether it’s right and should be allowed to continue.
If we say yes, then we also need to consider the resourcing of those families to support our weakest and most vulnerable members of society. Even Rick, with all that he has acheived, isn’t independant and relies on caregivers. He may be self funding but he is still very vulnerable.
In NZ we’ve had numerous cases echoing that of Janine Albury-Thomson who murdered her autistic daughter Casey after being turned away by 8 support agencies [more]. By all accounts Janine was a good and caring mother. The Dick Hoyts’ may be exceptional. The Janine Albury-Thomson’s, sadly, aren’t.
