Brainless Baby, a "miracle"?

[maiforpeace]

Baby without a brain turns one.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Freaky! We were just thinking who could be Sarah Palin's running mate in 2012.

[floppit]

I read about this condition a couple of years ago, it's related to spina bifida (sp?) I think. It's devastating, in every sense of the word - as it said in the movie many live a few hours and therefore I would argue that the mechanism for life is present just not enough so I don't think there's anything beyond the extreme of natural variation involved.

I think, watching the movie I just felt so much for his parents, I'm sure they would swear their religion gives them the strength to deal with it but from my outside perspective it looks alot like false hope and slow despair, a sort of contorted mourning process. I don't feel for the kid, I don't know if pain is perceived in the part of his brain left but I imagine it could be controlled (least I fecking hope so) beyond pain, if I remember the condition correctly, he's not going to be aware.

[Chinaski]

Does anyone else think it's a bit... Well, selfish, I guess, to keep this kid alive?

[floppit]

Personally, I think the level of natural damage is so high as to make it almost irrelevant - my concern is more for the living and I'm not sure that beyond a heart beat the kid counts. If it is likely he experiences pain or suffering then I agree it's selfish. I don't believe the smile or reported laughter is any more than wishful thinking and reflexes. But on the other hand, neuroplasticity is such a new concept, only a couple of decades old - if there's a person there at any level I think it would shake things up quite a bit and possibly provide information that works to alleviate more suffering than that particular child experiences.

Like I said though, if he does experience pain or suffering it's wrong for his life to be extended by artificial means.

[JOZeldenrust]

Finally, an opportunity for cannibalism without all the ethical problems!

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Finally a baby born with the intellectual capacity to realistically be labelled a 'christian child', rather than a 'child of christian parents'.

[anna09]

What I'd like to know is, was there any pre-natal testing done? Surely they would've noticed this during routine testing and if they were tested then shame on them for not terminating the pregnancy. If they had talked to any neurologist they would know that there is no hope for the baby and they've put themselves into even more pain and suffering by letting the baby live. There is absolutely no way the baby is "smiling" or laughing" and there is absolutely no way that this can be called a "miracle". How is this story in any way, shape or form positive? They mine as well be caring for a lizard. It's sad, pathetic and devastating.

[Mishakal]

What I'd like to know is, was there any pre-natal testing done? Surely they would've noticed this during routine testing and if they were tested then shame on them for not terminating the pregnancy. If they had talked to any neurologist they would know that there is no hope for the baby and they've put themselves into even more pain and suffering by letting the baby live. There is absolutely no way the baby is "smiling" or laughing" and there is absolutely no way that this can be called a "miracle". How is this story in any way, shape or form positive? They mine as well be caring for a lizard. It's sad, pathetic and devastating.

I remember hearing about this case a year ago and I think that the baby's condition was unknown until they were in the last month of the pregnancy.

[anna09]

Just in the last month? That seems rather odd, you'd think they'd catch something like that pretty early.

[Animavore]

Its a pretty nasty disease. Hard to figure out why it would take so long to detect it. Surely half a head missing gives a clue?

Warning: Image of enencephalic new-born (still-born?)

Trigger Warning!!!1! :

Edit: I have spoilered the image, just in case it might be upsetting to anyone. XC

[Mishakal]

Its a pretty nasty disease. Hard to figure out why it would take so long to detect it. Surely half a head missing gives a clue?

Warning: Image of enencephalic new-born (still-born?)

Trigger Warning!!!1! :

Edit: I have spoilered the image, just in case it might be upsetting to anyone. XC

Is that real? Cus it don't look real...

[irreligionist]

Yep, it's real. Anencephaly results from the cranial vault not forming i.e. no skull or skin above the eye sockets. The brain is exposed to the amniotic fluid and is destroyed by it.

What I'm wondering about vis a vis the baby in that video is that the baby seems to have a skull (albeit less dome-shaped than normal) and skin and hair. Survival for such babies might be a lot longer seeing as they don't have an open wound on the top of their head.

Re detection, well it would only be detected by ultrasound, and not every mother has one done. Foetuses look like frogs on ultrasound image, because their eyes are fully formed but then nothing above that.

I'm thinking it takes a faith-head to wish to continue clinging to 'the life that the Lord has given'. Atheism: 1 Theism: 0

[floppit]

While faith comes into it for the family - obviously big time, I'm less sure that the issue is a sound one with which to look at the advantages and disadvantages of faith. My reason for saying that isn't a lack of relevance more that such an event creates a wapping great confounding variable, put even the most rational person through such a thing - the baby just did not die, and I think one might see a grand attack of the crazies. If they were battling in court to keep him attached to machines it would be different but as it is there isn't (as far as I know) a legal way to end the life anyway. I think the parents should do what ever helps them get through it, whether religion will is debatable but their call not mine. I wouldn't think for a second I could advise them, they have to live with the reality and they will have to live with the memories of how they did that, perhaps celebrating it as a life and seeing it as something that helps other people is a plausible way of surviving it.

[The Dawktor]

My parents had a baby that was Anencephalic- it used to be diagnosed by palpation and a low lying uterus- ie clinically.
The baby was whisked away immediately at birth and never seen by my mother. When myself and my 3 sibling left to go to medical and dental school- my father took us by the throat and said "If you EVER bring an Embryology textbook home- I'll kill you!"
My mother- to this day- believes that Anencephalic babies are perfect to look at- not a bubble I'm going to burst!