Haleigh Poutre Almost Victim of Euthanasia, Now Making Good Progress

Life News ^ | September 4, 2006 | Steven Ertelt

[8mmMauser]

Boston, MA (LifeNews.com) -- Haleigh Poutre was the victim of child abuse and was nearly killed via euthanasia when Massachusetts officials gave up on her after she entered a coma. Now Poutre, once termed "brain dead" by doctors, continues to improve and is speaking a few words, her grandmother says.

Sandra Sudyka, the girl's biological grandmother, is no longer allowed to visit her granddaughter and now says she is ready to speak to the media about Poutre's condition.

She told The Republican newspaper that she last saw Poutre on July 18 but indicated she was "doing well."

"She was bright-eyed and smiling. She is always responsive to us," Sudyka explained.

Department of Social Services had asked Sudyka not to talk with reporters about Haleigh, but since they will no longer allow her and Haleigh's biological mother, Allison Avrett, to visit the 12 year-old, she said she's going to talk to the media.

"I decided since they broke the deal, I am going to talk. People should know how well she is doing," Sudyka told the newspaper.

"They don't want people to know how she is doing after they wanted to pull the plug," Sudyka said.

DSS spokeswoman Denise Monteiro declined an interview with The Republican but said that the visiting privileges have been suspended, not terminated.

Haleigh first began speaking in June, her grandmother told the newspaper.

"I was saying to her 'I love you,' and she was trying to say 'love' and it came out as a vibration...'ove,'" Sudyka said.

Sudyka, who is working with an attorney to adopt the girl, said she has said hello, responds to comments and questions, speaks nonverbally and is able to write her name. Haleigh can't walk and is confined to a wheelchair.

Avrett, Poutre's biological mother, lost custody of her daughter after physically abusing her. Poutre was put into a foster home where her adoptive parents also abused her. Her adopted mother committed suicide after abusing Poutre so much she had to be hospitalized.

DSS took Poutre into custody and when she appeared to slip into a coma, the agency asked the state Supreme Court for permission to take her life. That's when Poutre began responding.

Poutre has been receiving physical, speech and occupational therapy since January 26 at Franciscan Hospital for Children in Brighton.

Gov. Mitt Romney appointed a commission to look into how the state failed to properly handle the girl's case.

[MineralMan]

Having just seen my Father-in-law through his last days, I can tell you that Living Wills and DNR forms are here in Minnesota, too.

With the help of the local Hospice organization, he died, at age 86, with no pain or suffering. Bless their hearts. Hospice gets a large donation from me every year from now on.

Now, his ashes rest in the National Cemetary at Fort Snelling, right here in Minneapolis. I visited his grave this past weekend.

[MineralMan]

"my pets eat better than al clients.
"

And you know this how, exactly. Do you have a relative in long-term care or assisted living? If the food is terrible in the place your relative is, you should consider moving that relative to a place with better food.

How about some specifics. Or is this EVERY assisted living place in Pinellas County? I find that hard to believe. I really do.

[bjs1779]

They don't live in Pinellas County, though. If they did, I don't think I'd go there.

Why not? That's not a loaded question btw.

[MineralMan]

Too many people in Pinellas County. Too crowded. My relatives live in Cape Coral, and I like that area. Good shore fishing and not too crowded.

[BykrBayb]

LOL - I know the place you're talking about. I just might do that. Of course, it would be cold by the time I could get it to him, but hey, at least he wouldn't starve.

[bjs1779]

With the help of the local Hospice organization, he died, at age 86, with no pain or suffering. Bless their hearts. Hospice gets a large donation from me every year from now on.

Truly, that is very nice. No doubt he was part of the "greatest generation" in this counrtry.

[MineralMan]

"Truly, that is very nice. No doubt he was part of the "greatest generation" in this counrtry.
"

He was. He served in both WWII and Korea. My father served in WWII as a B-17 pilot, flying several bombing runs over Europe near the end of the war. He is 82 and just left from visting me and my wife.

My Father-in-law was under a DNR with orders for no feeding tubes or IV hydration. That was his wish. He died of "general debility" or old age. His last couple of days were spent in a morphine fog.

My wife and I, along with his wife of over 60 years were at his bedside at the end, which was very peaceful. He had been unable to eat or drink for several days, but that did not seem to distress him, and he was quite aware of his situation.

A good man, who raised a good family was my Father-in-law. He did not wish to be kept alive beyond his natural time of death. I suppose some would say he was murdered. I say he died with the dignity he deserved.

[bjs1779]

I suppose some would say he was murdered. I say he died with the dignity he deserved.

I doubt that anyone would say that he was murdered here. I certainly would not.

I maybe a little insensitive to you on this though and I am sorry, but what does this have to do with a 42 year old disabled woman who spent the last 5 years of her life in a hospice who had no therapy for 7 years before that after her husband got his money?

[8mmMauser]

Wagglebee posted a thread on the brain stimulation story. Here it is:

Doctors Able to Stimulate Brain Damaged Man's Speech, Movement

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[T'wit]

>> He had been unable to eat or drink for several days, but that did not seem to distress him...

I believe that's normal in the last days, and it is one time when it is standard to withhold food and liquid. And that's fine. Nobody here that I know of argues against standard end-of-life care or appropriate withdrawal of care when it is time for that. Nor would anyone call it "murder."

Let my add my gladness for your FIL's "life well lived."

Mine was killed in the war. I won't be specific, but he was a doctor who died at his post, refusing to leave his patients when they under attack. They all died together. My FIL was awarded a silver star posthumously.

I thought about him today because of a discussion about that doctor in N.O. who allegedly killed her patients after Katrina. I guess she panicked in the crisis. I am so proud my FIL did not run away. He stayed true to his duty -- even though it meant my kids never got to meet their grandpa.

[T'wit]

Big deal, I can do that with a shot of Jack Daniels :-)

[8mmMauser]

Shucks, I used to try that experiment a lot in the olden days, but I think I got the results backwards.

[T'wit]

>> I used to try that experiment...

"I was in my laboratory experimenting with some gin and other chemicals when I tripped over a deuce of clubs which someone had carelessly left lying on the floor..." -- Robert Benchley (quotation marks not to be taken too seriously :-) )

[BykrBayb]

Your FIL was the kind of doctor I would choose. I don't want a doctor whose solution to his/her stressful job situation is to kill me.

[8mmMauser]

Signs of the Times...

Our friend, Pat Mahoney, was arrested recently.

Pat was an eloquent defender of Terri, working himself to exhaustion, not wasting a minute, in doing all he could to help her.

Lest anyone think he deserved it, I was witness in Clearwater, with Pat and his contingent when he was in a public place near the chambers of Judge Greer. Greer had him thrown out even though he did nothing at all outside normal conduct. Even the cops were embarrassed as they illegally escorted Pat out. We were shocked. Pat is a gentle and decent man, just one who will not be pushed around by illegal actions of judges. Pat is fearless in standing up for truth and for Our Lord. That is why he is targeted. Those types hate people who will not compromise their values.

It is easy for us to take for granted the freedoms we have all enjoyed throughout the years with impunity and to figure this right is a given even today. It is not, and can disappear in a heartbeat, no matter how outrageous such actions may appear. This freedom is fragile indeed, not the durable one we presume we have.

We witnessed the killing of Terri and some may have compartmentalized it as a surreal anomaly, something so off the scale, it could not be repeated in our gentle lives. That compartmentalization is dangerously close to denial, for these outrages can and do happen again and again, mostly out of our sight.

(AgapePress) - A federal district judge in Washington, DC, has upheld the arrest of Christian activist Reverend Pat Mahoney, who claims his only crime was an association with the Ten Commandments. He says he couldn't believe the federal judge's decision.

Snip...

I(n) this latest case, the Christian activist notes, "I was arrested on a public sidewalk, three years ago, for holding a sign [bearing an inscription] of the Ten Commandments." He says the United States marshal who accosted him that day told him "Reverend Mahoney, you can be here. You just can't hold that sign."

Since Mahoney chose not to surrender his sign, he says he was taken into custody. However, he contends his arrest was a blatant violation of his constitutional rights, since "I was arrested not for my conduct but for my beliefs."

Christian Arrested While Picketing Sees Conviction as Sign of the Times... -- Shocked at Court's Ruling, Mahoney Maintains His Ten Commandments Protest Was Lawful

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[8mmMauser]

Terri: A Hate Story

AKA Terri: The Truth, (New definition of truth here...) I found this speech on the book supporting Mikey nearly buried, in the (Port) Charlotte Sun Herald. Maybe it should be left well enough alone. But it is illustrative of how Mikey supporters think. Echoes the terrorists of the Mideast...At the end, he urges Living Wills. Hmmmm. I understand his gagging, though. I experienced similar symptoms just reading this.

Hirsh contacted Schiavo's lawyer, George J. Felos, who suggested Hirsh speak to Michael's brother, Brian Schiavo, who lives near Venice.

"They had a writer they were working with," Hirsh said. "They wanted to call the book, 'Terri: A Love Story.' Truthfully, I gagged. That wasn't the story Michael needed to write. I told him, 'Your book has to throw hand grenades. You need to come out fighting.'"

Local author speaks on Schiavo book

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[Jezebelle]

Since when can't protectors of any stripe not carry signs saying whatever they want them to say? It is the absolute fundamental essence of free speech.

Did the 10C's make Greer a little uncomfortable? A little squeamish perhaps?

[8mmMauser]

As we remember Haleigh Poutre, we remember Scott Thomas. May we reflect on Jimmy Chambers, R.I.P. and Andrea Clark R.I.P. and the others victimized by our system. In Scott's case, no news is good news as he remains in the loving care of his family. May we all be as vigilant as his family.

May Our Lord give us the grace of faith He gave Scott's family.

The latter is Terri's priest, Monsignor Malanowski, who was with her, unflinching, during those last days.

[8mmMauser]

Sadly, some judges simply are annoyed by the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and they brush them aside like annoying flies.

Greer is one of these creatures.

It wasn't the 10C's with Judge Greer, just people wanting Terri to get a fair legal break. I don't recall even if Pat was carrying anything at all, just his presence. We who had signs could not even enter the public place from the start, had to remain outside to the jeers of passing Scientologists.

It wasn't Pat who was hated by Greer, but Our Lord, he represented.

[8mmMauser]

"I was in my laboratory experimenting with some gin and other chemicals when I tripped over a deuce of clubs which someone had carelessly left lying on the floor..." -- Robert Benchley (quotation marks not to be taken too seriously :-) )

I can relate to that, having tripped over a pattern in the floor tiles myself. It is dangerous concocting such chemicals in a makeshift lab. But that was long ago...