(TW: Ableism, Medical Abuse, Neglect, ED (Weight), Ableist Language) The other story from a 'Pillow Angel' Been there. Done that. Preferred to grow.
(TW: Ableism, Medical Abuse, Neglect, ED (Weight), Ableist Language)
Three years ago, a 6-year-old Seattle girl called Ashley, who had severe disabilities, was, at her parentsâ request, given a medical treatment called âgrowth attenuationâ to prevent her growing. She had her uterus removed, had surgery on her breasts so they would not develop and was given hormone treatment. She is now known by the nickname her parents gave her â Pillow Angel.
The case of Ashley hit the media in January after publication of an article in a medical journal about her treatment. It reappeared in the news recently because of the admission by Childrenâs Hospital and Regional Medical Center that the procedures its doctors had performed to stop Ashley from growing and reaching sexual maturity violated state law. In Canada (as in Australia), a child can be sterilized only with the consent of a court.
At the time of the initial publicity about growth attenuation, Ashleyâs parents wrote on their blog: âIn our opinion only parents of special needs children are in a position to fully relate to this topic. Unless you are living the experience, you are speculating and you have no clue what it is like to be the bedridden child or their caregivers.â
I did live the experience. I lived it not as a parent or caregiver but as a bed-ridden growth-attenuated child. My life story is the reverse of Ashleyâs.
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