Jehovah's Witness mother of twins refuses blood transfusion then dies.

[~mellabella~]

That is like asking if self sacrifice for another's life is suicide or not. Would people consider running into a burning building to save another even though it means the loss of their own life to be suicide?
She obviously thought she was risking her own life for her beliefs in her Lord. She was making a self sacrifice for her god and beliefs.

To a point I understand that. That just had to be such a hard choice to make. It makes me wonder of the choice was really hers, or if it was the pressure of her fellow JW's who also believe that way.

 

[MMDad]

cool thank you.

so they do believe that God created it all

wouldn't that mean that God created the blood that could have saved her?

That logic could be used to say that God created abortion, so it must be okay. I doubt you'll get many people going along with that one.

 

[Xaquin44]

To a point I understand that. That just had to be such a hard choice to make. It makes me wonder of the choice was really hers, or if it was the pressure of her husband and her fellow JW's who also believes that way.

The other JWs should have nothing to say. It's not like they will take care of the babies.

 

[Novus Collectus]

cool thank you.

so they do believe that God created it all

wouldn't that mean that God created the blood that could have saved her?

I guess it's splitting hairs, but I somehow doubt God would be ok with completely abandoning your children because you didn't want a relatively simple procedure done.

eh.

poor kids and father.

Maybe she thought abondoning her faith was abondoning her kids on a much higher level. Maybe she died believing she was dying in part for her kids' salvation.

 

[bresamil]

I guess it's splitting hairs, but I somehow doubt God would be ok with completely abandoning your children because you didn't want a relatively simple procedure done.

eh.

poor kids and father.

I'm sure the husband feels blessed.

And as a child of a parent that had multiple blood transfusions - some with horrible complications - I don't consider it a simple procedure at all.

 

[Xaquin44]

That logic could be used to say that God created abortion, so it must be okay. I doubt you'll get many people going along with that one.

what?

blood is a physical entity.

abortion is a process.

and even if it was, thats not remotly what I was saying ....

 

[~mellabella~]

The other JWs should have nothing to say. It's not like they will take care of the babies.

They are very devout in their faith. If they believe in something strong enough, they push for what they feel is right. Its like a large family. Very tight knit.

 

[vraiblonde]

Common sense.

Great. Then you worry about your own medical needs and let other people worry about theirs.

 

[Xaquin44]

I'm sure the husband feels blessed.

And as a child of a parent that had multiple blood transfusions - some with horrible complications - I don't consider it a simple procedure at all.

I said relatively simple .... in that you are very likely to live as opposed to some spinal or brain surgeries.

why is everyone completely ignoring my actual words =/

 

[Xaquin44]

They are very devout in their faith. If they believe in something strong enough, they push for what they feel is right. Its like a large family. Very tight knit.

oh I've known a few.

I still doubt someone will be there 24/7 to replace a caring loving mother.

 

[SoMDGirl42]

I don't care what my faith is, if I'm laying on a table holding my newborn twins and I KNOW if I don't receive that blood I'm gonna die and my newborn twins are gonna grow up without their mom, I'm picking a new religion with different beliefs! I'm smart enough to realize we all make mistakes, and maybe I made a mistake choosing religion over my babies. If I die at a ripe old age and go to hell for changing my mind, at least I'll know I got to raise my babies and did what I thought was best in the end. To each their own, I can only say what I'd do. She choose to die for her beliefs, so be it.

 

[vraiblonde]

What if her decision killed her twins instead of her??

What if her twins were 6 months old, and she denied them life saving medical treatment and they died?

I'm fine with HER dying of her own decisions.. her death has no bearing, she's an adult.. yada yada yada.. but what if??

Abortion is legal in this country. So had she denied medical treatment that ended in the death of her children, I cannot possibly see how that would be against the law.

However, that's not what happened. So kindly stick with what IS instead of what WASN'T.

 

[~mellabella~]

oh I've known a few.

I still doubt someone will be there 24/7 to replace a caring loving mother.

I agree with that, I just think that the pressure was on more than you will find in that article. You either believe everything they believe, or you are out in the cold. Had she said yes to the transfusion, she would have had to have done a lot to stay in that community.

 

[vraiblonde]

She choose to die for her beliefs, so be it.

Do you have a belief that's strong enough you'd die for it?

 

[~mellabella~]

Abortion is legal in this country. So had she denied medical treatment that ended in the death of her children, I cannot possibly see how that would be against the law.

However, that's not what happened. So kindly stick with what IS instead of what WASN'T.

This late in the pregnancy, you'd better believe that it would be considered murder. The babies were able to live outside of her at that point.

 

[awpitt]

That's your interpretation. That isn't hers. what makes your interpretation right and yours wrong? Don't say faith. She was willing to die over this, so I doubt she didn't have faith in what she was doing.

It's her interpretation as taught to her by the church and the church is basing it on something in the Bible that says don't EAT blood. This just seems too "Jim Jones" like to me. I think there are times when a "church" which is humans becomes too much a portion of one's faith which is supposed to be between that person and God. The JW church did the equivalent of telling her to drink the kool-aid and she trusted them. I don't fault her. My issue is with the JW church.

 

[Cowgirl]

Do you have a belief that's strong enough you'd die for it?

I'm guessing she wouldn't let something as foolish as religion stand in the way of her raising her babies. :shrug:

I can't figure out why someone would choose religion over their children.

 

[Cowgirl]

And why would someone choose to be a part of a religion that would rather have a mother die than live and raise her babies? What is so honorable about choosing to die when you leave behind life/lives that you created?

 

[vegmom]

What I wonder is if it would have been possible from a medical and religious stand point for her to have her own blood set aside in case she needed it after giving birth?

 

[vraiblonde]

I'm guessing she wouldn't let something as foolish as religion stand in the way of her raising her babies.

Religion is foolish TO YOU. Obviously not to her.

And again I ask the question: do you have a belief that is so important to you that you would die for it?