mother paralyzed giving birth can visit with her children

LOS ANGELES - Although she can't eat, speak or move, Abbie Dorn's parents say that doesn't mean she loves her children any less than any other mother would love hers.

Nor, her parents say, should Dorn be denied the right to hold her kids or watch as they grow up. They have gone to court in an effort to persuade a judge that their daughter not only wants motherhood, but has a constitutional right to it as well.

But allowing three preschoolers to spend lengthy periods of time with a woman who can only lay motionless will traumatize them, argues their father, Dan Dorn. He has been raising the two boys and a girl as a single parent since the day he brought them home from the hospital nearly five years ago. He wants things to remain that way.

http://www.startribune.com/nation/118564619.html

Thats pretty sick. So the mother who must be living a nightmare shouldn't be allowed to see the only things good in her life? The father probably has a young hottie ready to step in and replace her.

Disgusting!

It's amazing that court a would even hear the case....seems like frivolous litigation. This guys is a low life probably getting a pay out from the malpractice too. Sick!

So what is wrong with showing the kids that life isn't all strawberries and cream? There is trauma in life...everywhere...and exposing kids to whatever trauma their life gives them is OK...from my point of view, it'll only make them better adults and make it easier to handle "adult" things.

:thumbsup:

Wow - her husband is a damn cruel and selfish person.

To a point, I understand the husband's point-of-view; however, I agree with you SC that he should meet the grandparents half-way. Besides possibly enhancing the mother's life, it also definately shows the kids that their mother didn't abandon them. And I think dad is leaving himself open for criticism from his kids when they get older and realize that their dad kept them away from their mom.

What would I do in this situation? Well...when my dad was demented the last year and a half of his life and didn't really know anyone, I made sure to take my children to the nursing home to see him...at least for 10 minutes. We usually timed it around a meal so we would accompany my dad to the dining room, talk with him while he ate, then walk with him back to his room where he usually took a nap. If my kids were became uncomfortable during the visit, I allowed them to leave the building. When dad got really bad and couldn't talk or walk or acknowledge anyone, if the kids didn't want to go because it was too painful...I allowed them to choose.

So, I believe I would encourage the kids to visit their mom...send her letters, drawings, record the kids reading or playing or around the dinner table and send the recording to mom. Then as the kids got older, if they didn't want to visit mom, I wouldn't make them.

I could barely read this. The father is a jerk.

Thanks for the post Nmysys.

Well done, CB. You enhanced both their lives and his, while making it not a burden on either.