Wow. Someone being honest. Respect to you...and compassion to the girl. Far as she goes...those pictures were really....disturbing to look at, have to admit that. Of course it's also a matter of habit but I am struggling with the idea of someone calling her beautiful based on these pics. Naturally that doesn't mean she can't be a great person and beautiful on the inside, it also absolutely doesn't mean people should just call her out on all that(that speaks more about those people than it does about), but perhaps let's not turn being nice and accepting into outright lying.

You're absolutely right. The way so many people are glorifying this misery and the suffering of people with severe brain damage is disgusting. Life itself isn't precious, if it's just suffering.

"I do not believe that society should have to pay for someone who will never pay it back" But that's how society works. Not everyone is created equal, some will pay less, some will pay more. It should balance out. And before your scream COMMIES you should read up on communism, because a large group taking care of their weaker ones is not communism, it's called Society. If it was "survival of the fittest" we'd be very, very alone. I agree that the photos area hard to look at but I don't think a human being like her needs to be euthanized ... she needs to be supported until she's old enough to decide her own fate. Immagine your parents killed you because you were a burden.

My question is, what happens when her parents pass away? Will the burden of care then fall on her siblings since it states that she needs 24/7 care? Or will she have to go into a state run facility? Ultimately this situation is not positive for anyone in the long run. What good is a life if its entirety is full of suffering and pain, not just on the individual but those around them as well.

The idea that she'll "never pay it back" rests on a narrow idea of what "contributing to society" involves. Contribution to society cannot be fully measured, quantified, or judged as insufficient. Contribution to economy maybe, but society? Interacting with people like this girl can teach others patience and compassion, which are very valuable traits. The simple act of living around people who differ from yourself leaves people more open-minded and empathetic. Is this not contributing to society? One may say that whatever small amount she gives will not compare to the large amount of care poured into her, but generosity is also a valuable trait in a healthy, supportive society. Humans have been caring for our disabled since the time of Neanderthals, and look how far our species has come. It clearly hasn't ruined human society so why not? I feel that the mentality of not caring for others you deem unworthy is more harmful to a society than the extra effort involved in caring for them.

I absolutely agree with you. This is suffering at it's finest! She will never be able to enjoy life. If I was a mother I would never let my child live with choking and seizures happening every other minute, and putting this poor girl through so many surgeries! God! This is torture! I am not blaming the mother, clearly it is traumatizing for her as well. But she should have some compassion. And yes- I too had to quickly scroll through her images. People these day would rather publicly lie than admit the truth, in fear of being attacked by those with "an acceptable opinion".

As for her appearance, anyone who has known her for a couple days would get used to it. In loving someones heart you tend to care less about how they look. I'm sure it warms her parent's heart to see her smile as much as it does to see their other children smile. In that case, how does it benefit anyone in the least to "admit" that someone's appearance startles them at first? Does that make the situation better in any way at all? That is not a useful thing to push people to do.

'I do not believe that society should have to pay for someone who will never pay it back' Wow. And so many likes for this. This kind of thinking is sociapathic and the reasoning for several genocides in human history. I'm a tour guid and among other thngs I also do tours in a former concetnrations camp where over a thousand handicapped people were killed. In addition to thousand who were starved or injected with poison. So many families had no idea this would happen to their family members. So many were deeply mourned. The girl is happy, she is loved and loves back. We are not God. We don't get to decide who is allowed to live and who isn't and we most certainly don't get to decide that based on the monetary value of a human being. handicapped people were also killed or abandoned in other brutal regimes. That is were this kind of thinking belongs, not in a modern, civilized society. I'm a deeply horrified by this post and the many likes it got.

Maybe I don't like to work for a society that kills people with mental illnesses. A loving and caring society also creates a positive society with more income. So I don't think a cruel, cold utilitarian society is even financially the best one. I perfectly accept that people with the 'thinking capacity of a toddler' will cost more and earn probably nothing. It's there right to live as happy as possible. And i'm not against euthanesia. Not at all. If a kid, or anyone, just suffers, it should be an option. But according to the mom the kid is happy. So how dare you even suggest this kind of s**t.

I'll be honest, I was a little scared and shocked when I first saw her. I felt sad for her. Then I stared at her pictures a little longer, and her loving family sharing their affection with her, and her smiles. And I suddenly realized how sweet she looks, and that she does NOT look scary. The fact is - the actual truth I believe - is that she is extremely sweet, and is a beautiful existence. Just like that I don't feel slightly scared anymore seeing her, and ofc doesn't her family. We're conditioned by society and our own experiences to have opinions and feelings towards ideas and concepts, such as beauty and 'normal human appearances' (idk how much is natural/preset), but I think that it's possible to be less restricted by set opinions and such if we try to keep an open mind. And I disagree that we should consider euthanizing the disabled. If we are a capable civilization, we should help others. To be thinking "oh, but these disabled kids won't pay us back" is such BS, sorry...

Here's a question for you Markus, and not being critical of you. What about folks who are in accidents, have deformities or severe impairments that leave them disabled mentally, physically or otherwise. To what degree, do we say, and decide for them in some cases that they should be killed...after all euthanasia is a polite word for killing someone whether they consent to or not, based on what *we* think is best. I believe there are enough resources especially in North America to feed and care for everyone 100x over for each person. Yes I agree not pleasant to look at, but that's totally subjective isn't it? Her parents love her, her siblings love her, i'm sure if we allow our compassion to grow we can love her too. Her appearance does not dictate whether we can or cannot love her, otherwise everyone would treat her the same. I helped a guy named steve in college who was seizure, wheelchair bound but always had a big grin on his face...i learned to be a better person around him.

you know, the problem is, who and on which conditions decides about will never pay back. For example, homosexuals, or infertile people, or with less than average iq. Or other ethnic group , depends from a time and need. We had this in Europe 75 years ago, therefore we are strongly against any racist and eugenic policies

Yes, I think most would agree that her appearance isn't what most people would want their children to look like, but that's not what this is about. She is a real little girl and the way she looks is not her fault. All decisions parents make about whether to have and/ or keep alive a severely disabled child is their own and not the business of anyone else.

Honest question - if her disability were more visually "appealing", would you still feel that way? Because my first reaction IS to judge you for justifying killing disabled people.

Perhaps part of the problem is with thinking in terms of "society" paying and receiving back from her. You're only thinking monetarily. "Society's" money regularly goes towards all kinds of things that don't truly benefit it as a whole. The ones in this story giving the most in personal finances, time, and emotion are her parents, and it is clear from the article that they personally receive very much back for that which they value significantly. I could talk a lot more about simply the intrinsic value of a human life no matter if anyone "benefits" or not, but from your post I don't think arguments like that would mean much to you though I believe in it myself. I've always felt that people with severe disabilities like this remind us to stay human. They tend to bring out the tenderness, compassion, and all the best things in the people around them. That is one way which I believe they have very significant influence on society.

maybe you can't understand inner beauty. she shines with that.

What you describe was performed in Germany as "Aktion T4". They used exact the same arguments as you.

Yes, it is unpleasant to look at this little girl and realize that she suffers medical issues and that she suffers the harsh judgment of others. She does not conform to the normal physical appearance we are used to seeing, and it makes us uncomfortable because we do not understand it. That does not make her any less beautiful; she is a human being with thoughts, feelings, and love to give. It is okay to be uncomfortable, but be open as well. The value this child gives is that she teaches you to become a more compassionate person and to accept that different does not have to be terrifying.

Money should not be a reason someone has to die. Money is not everything. Her family loves her and she loves them. You might find her terrifying to look at, I didn't. Sometimes life can hand you a raw deal, how would you like it if random people on the internet started saying what you are here? it would hurt you, your loved ones. Open your heart.

This is seriously one of the most disturbing things I’ve read in my life.

Lol. The quality of your answers goes down with each response,but at least you acknowledged that you would be attacked for your "utilitarian" views. After all, who would agree to live in a place so dystopian-like that your right to life will be determined by your value in society, whether or not your condition allows you to be productive. The reason these people are provided with the care that they need is simply because they also have rights, they are people, even if they "never have the thinking capacity of more than a toddler". You're an entitled to an opinion and you deserve to share it, but criticism exists.

Late to the party but her mother finally did the right thing and stopped subjecting her to the endless non-consensual surgeries and force feeding. I think the parents and doctors were very unethical forcing her to live when she actually would have died naturally not long after birth. It's neither beautiful or a miracle, it's a grotesque display of selfishness and ego from the doctors and parents. She's not even "smiling" it's a gruesome semblance of a smile because the flesh from the upper corners of her mouth are ripped right off basically.

She has a private medical insurance and her parents pay for it.

i understand the quality of life argument but you are going right for the wallet.it cost each person pennies. if you would want to live in a world where you price tag (real or imagined) determines if you live or die, you probably be hard pressed to find someone who wants you in this one.

Im with you. And TBH, that is pretty disturbing picture for me to look at

some might say YOUR appearance is unpleasant too. sorry but I don't experience 'visceral fear' looking at her, and clearly her children-siblings do not either; but some adults do have a problem. Her appearance is 'unpleasant' yes, by our cultural and instinctive standards of 'beauty; but frankly who finf cares. The ugliness of the human race is in its hate. SO, you draw the line at 'toddler age' capacity in allowing a person life, huh? Well, I'll be happy to kill you on the spot if you tell to my 18yo son who had Down Syndrome with West syndrome, who has the capacity of a 18 month old but is learning to walk, play, laugh and smile.

This says it for me "but I do not believe that society should have to pay for someone who will never pay it back. " What do you mean by payment? Dollars? Presence? Emotion? Compassion? Insight? If your world view is limited to a balance sheet then I don't want to live in your wolrd.

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100% agree.

Can't respond to your response apparently so will respond here...in this specific case I don't feel we have enough info to judge if she is or can be happy(and it's definitely not up to us to decide her fate). It also depends on how functioning her brain is and frankly she's probably worse off if it's high functioning enough to realize the extent of her issues. But at the same time...medicine is evolving and maybe there is or will be a chance one day? Can we take that away? Or even if not, there have been people with crippling disabilities who have achieved more in my life than most of us "normal" people and did manage to become happy and leave their mark on the world despite everything. I don't know, I feel it's a very difficult subject. I do actually feel euthanasia can be justified in some cases but it's very hard to draw the line there.

What you are calling "euthanasia" is murder...first degree murder. You REALLY, REALLY need to adjust your thinking. You are advocating murder! More than unpopular, your feelings are CRIMINAL!

It won't be Euthanasia if she can't /doesn't consent. It would be murder. She has the right to live no matter what she looks like.

How is this getting likes ? You just said that all mentality disabled people alive who aren't mentally older than a toddler should be put down. Like f**k, might as well get the shot gun and take them behind the shed right ?

Wow! What a miserable soul you must be so heartless. I think I rather pay taxes for her care than pay them for you if I had to. Rather euthanize you than her.

This site sucks... that post literally re-posted to every single subpost...

It's hard to tell if euthanasia applies here, but still I think it should be a matter of further discussion. But overall I agree with your comments, it's good to read this after all that "gift from God" nonsense.

Good to know there's someone with the same opinion. Society runs on everybody working for themselves, contributing and getting back in return. But, the severely disabled (who can't think more than a toddler,) won't be able to give back typically. So society will keep giving until they are unable to provide anymore as they are taking from their own resources and not getting anything back in return. Weaver had pointed out that she's gone through 22 surgeries and endured a lot of pain. Sit this is the case, then why keep her alive if her future is only more surgery and pain with no consolation other than staying alive?

Crucified for? No. Just little reminder: thinking like this leaded Hitler and whole Nazi Germany to creating death camps. For you, sick are unworthy being alive. For Hitler - it was all disabled people, mental sick people, Jews, Slaws, homosexuals, Gypsys, etc. It is dangerous road. Once we start ot think some people are not worth living (whatever its because "society should noy have to pay for someone who will never pay it back" or "Jews are subhumans") we start going dangerous road that leads only to death and end of humanity.

Can't agree more with what you have said: "My biggest issue is, looking at her and reading about her condition, even if she is happy, it appears to be happiness from ignorance." You might say her parents are going a great thing, but I think they are selfish/irresponsible in a way that they put their daughter through all the surgeries, but they refuse to admit their mistakes by allowing her suffering at the first place.

I completely agree. In nature when an animal or what have you is born with major defects that effect its functioning and survivability it either doesnt make it through birth or rarely make it to adulthood. I think if doctors see something will seriously be wrong with the child it should be aborted. No questions about it. If that baby will never grow up into a functioning member of society what is the point. If they have the capacity of thought at all they are going to know when they look in the mirror theyre different. And not in a good way. The weakest, most vulnerable of society often gets left behind or unpurposefully dragged along. It wont be a quality life. Period.

While your ideology is problematic, to say the least, let’s look at this pragmatically: What exactly determines who lives and who dies? Who exactly determines this? Who exactly do you think will carry this out? Do you think Drs will willingly break their hippocratic oaths, willingly kill a child? Further, your post mentions the severely disabled, people that do not contribute to society, people that can't think beyond a toddler level...History has shown that this is a very slippery slope.

I wonder how old you are??? I wonder if you have children?? I also wonder...if YOUR child is disabled...will YOU be the one standing at the chopping block with the axe??? I would also point out, that your ugliness, and ignorance is FAR more harmful to society than that little girl.

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Feel how you want. Parents made a choice, the life is here you STFU and show respect. You're not worth more to that family than she is so jog on you spine free weasel.

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What a shallow, sad comment. And sadder are the people who downvote Mika N's reply. Master Markus, you should be ashamed of yourself.