What a frightening, devastating discussion to have with your four year old child. This is that family’s reality, a cycle of surgeries, recoveries, and the ongoing process of her illness, both incurable and unstoppable. It has been that way since the girls’ birth. Some would consider this as child abuse, and with some children, it would be. There are other children, who have deep wisdom, as they have been forced to think, forced to try rationalizing a life full of pain, inconvenience and a fair amount of loneliness.
Some children DO know what their saying, when considering the big topics.
Many of us underestimate what a child is capable of or prepared to experience. My prayers go to this family, that they receive the guidance and the peace of mind needed to make the correct decisions. Wow.
The kid is 5. The parents could have just as easily asked her if she wanted to go be with Santa Clause. I support the parents decision what ever it is but they should go about it honestly and admit they think it better for their child to die and cease with the suffering and prolonged death.
Children may be smart, wise, mature, and etc. but they are still undeveloped and utterly dependent on others which removes any notion of free agency in their decisions. You cannot allow children to make a decision like this.