GUILTY OR - Newborn David Hickman dies as parents rely on faith healing, Sept 2009

[not_my_kids]

I believe in prayer too, I believe it is one of the most powerful forces on earth or anywhere else. In fact, when my newborn had to have surgery, I prayed the whole time. I prayed that they would be able to find the problem, that it would be fixable, that he would recover fast, that he wouldn't remember it. I prayed that the surgeon would be well rested, highly experienced, and have all the equipment he needed. I prayed that he would live. But not once did I believe that prayer would be enough. I prayed for the surgeon, because we needed him and God. God put him on this earth to save lives. And between God and the surgeon, my son lived, and is thriving.

I don't have a problem with home births, in fact, if I could do it myself, I think I would have after my first child. I'm not a fan of hospitals, and I don't like the way that some hospitals treat new mothers, let alone the infants. (I have to be monitored though, so I can't ever do a home birth.) But, if I were able to, I would have called 911 for transport as soon as my kids were born, to make sure that there were no problems. Even if I were savoring the time with my child, I would have called 911 the second that any of them started showing problems.

I know, I'm kind of rambling, but I just cannot understand this. Do these followers believe that medical advancements are of the Devil? Do they believe that doctors know more than they should, and therefore, their expertise is not of God? Over and over, we hear that children are dying in these groups, but what about adults? Do they go to doctors? Do any of them take medications, OTC or Rx? My mind is boggled, sorry.

 

[AnaTeresa]

"...Prosecutor Mike Regan said the sentence sends a message to the church. The Followers are not fundamentally different from a black-robed pagan group that sacrifices a sick child in the dead of night, Regan told the court. In the Followers, "we have a religious group sacrificing children's lives, year after year, decade after decade," he said. "We have to do something...."

ttp://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-city/index.ssf/2011/10/dale_and_shannon_hickman_of_fo.html

BBM. You know, I really hate this comparison. As someone who has pagan/wiccan friends, I went out of my way to understand their belief system because I was puzzled by it at first. REAL pagans do not sacrifice their children. REAL witches do not prance around stealing children for satanic rituals.

What the parents did was terribly wrong. Period. There was absolutely no need to bring in false stereotypes about pagans/wiccans into it.

 

[not_my_kids]

BBM. You know, I really hate this comparison. As someone who has pagan/wiccan friends, I went out of my way to understand their belief system because I was puzzled by it at first. REAL pagans do not sacrifice their children. REAL witches do not prance around stealing children for satanic rituals.

What the parents did was terribly wrong. Period. There was absolutely no need to bring in false stereotypes about pagans/wiccans into it.

The button wasn't enough. Thank you. I overlooked that statement the first time I read through, because I was focused more on the other aspects of the story. I couldn't agree with you more, and I can't thank you enough.

I hate those stereotypes. I have explored religions outside of Christianity, and I do think that those that practice true Wicca seem to be among the kindest people that I have met. Certainly, none of them has ever sacrificed a child, their own or anyone else's. In fact, most of them are also vegeterian or vegan because they don't like the idea of harming an animal for food. It's a bad stereotype and a bad comparison.

ETA: And let's not forget that most pagans would take their sick child to a doctor, making them infinitely better than the "parents" in this story.

 

[Missizzy]

I cringed when I read that statement. It was over the line. The pagans I know are very protective of their children's health and willing to try all manner of traditional and alternative approaches for healing. Not a nice statement.

Concerning home birth (and I have no desire to debate this here), most of our grandchildren were born at home with the assistance of a very skilled and experienced nurse midwife. EMS was called once when a newborn (almost 12 lbs!!) did not immediately breathe on his own. However, the EMTs were extremely respectful of the midwife and stood back and just observed as she handled my grandson expertly. I had to go outside and throw up as that was the longest five minutes of my life!! All of us massaged that child so vigorously, I'm surprised he wasn't permanently bruised!! All the time, he was being given oxygen, however. He's a fine and strapping 7 year old.

Another grandchild was born with unexpected severe disabilities even though there had been multiple ultra-sounds. She had a congenital disease possibly related to my illness. I am forever thankful that she was born at home. It was a lovely full term birth but our baby girl couldn't breathe and her little organs did not function properly. Most of them were on the outside of her body. EMS was immediately called (by the same midwife) and they transported her to the local NICU as we followed. She was not meant for this world and I've always been so grateful that the midwife, the EMTs and the pediatrician at the hospital recognized that. She passed surrounded by all those who love her. She had expert care and prayer but she had other plans.

IMO, prayer and expert care must go hand in hand.

 

[Donjeta]

http://jezebel.com/oregon-court-uph...source=jezebel_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

The Oregon Supreme Court has upheld the 2011 manslaughter convictions of a faith-healing couple whose premature baby died after a homebirth when they didn’t seek medical treatment. Dale and Shannon Hickman are members of the Followers of Christ church in Oregon City, which the state said has a long history of children dying from preventable conditions because their parents refused them medical care.