I want to weigh in on this subject

I apologize for that headline. It really is in bad taste and I know it.

The parents of a nine-year-old girl who suffers from a rare brain condition have said they are deliberately keeping her child-sized to give her a better life.

The youngster, named only as Ashley, suffers from static encephalopathy and cannot walk or talk.

Three years ago, fearing that she would one day become too big to lift or move easily, they took the decision to keep her small with a treatment known as growth attenuation.

Ashley, who doctors expect to have a normal lifespan, has had a hysterectomy, surgery to prevent breast growth and high doses of oestrogen that will keep her about 4 foot 5 tall forever. Her weight will remain at around five and a half stone (39 kg or 77 lb). The high doses of oestrogen accelerated the early signs of puberty she was already showing to minimise her adult height and weight.

The doctors thought it very likely she would reach a weight of 9 stone (57 kg 126 lb).

I want to say I agree with the parents based on the limited information available. Lately I had to help a friend who was drunk. She weighed at most 98 lb. She was what is referred to as "dead weight" and it took all the strength I could muster to move her. These parents want to include their child in their lives, but fear it would be near impossible if she should become too heavy and they are right.

Now a little rant. I've read many accounts of this girl's situation and most accounts mention there is much much more information at the family's website, but none of the articles ever give that website address. Wake up there. This is the internets tubes times and we need to have links.

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