Horrible Family News Yesterday

[_Jesse Pinkman]

I'm so sorry, Kevin. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family.

[_malkie]

So sorry to hear your news.

[_sock puppet]

I no longer consider myself a religious person, but given the situation I couldn't help but wonder what value religion could have in times like these.

Hey, Kevin. That's a tough situation for the little girl, her parents and other family members like you.

I think that the value religion brings in times like these is that it helps the grieving processes, now and when she passes. The idea that she might have a pain-free existence after she dies is comforting. It seems like what she ought to get for having to endure what lies ahead for her before she dies. It has an aspect of justice to it.

For the family, the survivors-to-be, the idea that their loss of this girl in their lives will be temporary in that they will once again be with her, in an after-life, is a comforting thought. It makes dealing with the loss segmented, and thereby easier. Rather than having to face in the days and weeks after she dies that they will never again have her company, the same depths of such grief can be broken up, by interludes of thoughts of hope for the future. It is easier to deal with the grief in segments, broken-up by those interludes of hope, and do so over months rather than more intensely in just days/weeks.

When I've lost family and friends, I've indulged in the hope. It has made it easier in the short-term, and made it easier to get to a long-term position of realizing that the fond memories of them is all the hope and residue of them that I have or ever will. Heck, even when I lose a dear pet, I indulge for a time in the hope for the poetic Rainbow Bridge. But as time goes by, my grieving matures into appreciation for what a wonderful dog and companionship that I had, and revisit the fond memories of him or her.

I think religion offers some value in times like these you and yours are now facing. LDS missionaries often contact families grieving a recent loss (from searching the obituaries) because of the greater susceptibility to a religious message and hope in such times.

On the other hand, the problem of why an all-powerful and loving god would allow this and not fix it also comes up at times like these for your family, where it won't be the death of an elderly relative that lived a long, full life. If disbelief is not the result, often anger is.

[_mentalgymnast]

On the other hand, the problem of why an all-powerful and loving god would allow this and not fix it also comes up at times like these for your family, where it won't be the death of an elderly relative that lived a long, full life. If disbelief is not the result, often anger is.

Heartfelt sympathies to this family. The LDS doctrine of "opposition in ALL things", even for believers, is a difficult pill to swallow especially when that opposition results in the physical deterioration and death of someone close to us. We would so much like for there not to be these cruel and unusual diseases and/or genetic anomalies that affect our families. But they're there and we are left to wonder at it all.

Best wishes in these hard times.

Regards,
MG

[_richardMdBorn]

Sorry to hear about this Kevin.

[_Gunnar]

Kevin,

Having lost a child myself, I know how devastating it can be to anticipate the loss of a beloved child. I wish the best for your family and the little girl.

How sad. Is the family Mormon? I am a Christian, an evangelical believer, and I know with a certainty that God can heal. While I know this suggestion will most likely be rejected, I think the child needs to be taken to an evangelical church (Calvary Chapel, Assembly of God, Charismatic, etc.), and be anointed with oil in the Name of Jesus Christ for a healing. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are still in the Church, and if I was the parent of this poor child I would certainly avail myself of those gifts. I know Mormons think our church is apostate, etc., but trust me, God heals, and often does so through anointing with oil in Name of Jesus and the Laying on of hands. I have been healed myself, and I've seen healing miracles take place with different friends and family (one time when my grandson was severely ill and the doctors were concerned he might die)! My prayers are with this family.

I'm sure your intentions are good, Servant, but Mormons also use the ritual of anointing with oil, laying on of hands and prayer, in the name of Christ, to heal and bless their sick. What makes you think that using their own healing ritual (for which Mormons have claimed miraculous results as spectacular as any ever claimed by Evangelicals) would be any less effective than taking their child to an evangelical church instead, for the same purpose? Does God offer healing only to those who share your particular belief system?

[_Kevin Graham]

My brother and his family aren't LDS.

They're not religious at all, actually.

My step-father is extremely close to Layla, and this ordeal has caused him to question many things about God and the purpose of life. He's in his seventies and so it is hard for him to know he is going to outlive any of his grandchildren. He's a traditional Christian type, though not very religious.

[_lostindc]

Hey Kevin,

So sorry, I will pray for her, not sure it works but I still feel the compulsion to pray in these situations. It breaks me to read about these tragedies. Life absolutely sucks a lot of the time. Life is an absolute grinder. From my experience interacting with you on this site and other sites, you're not one to back down from a challenge and you appear more than willing to bend over backwards to help others. I believe you will play an important role to comfort and strengthen the child and your family.

Will there be a donation site setup in order to help with expenses?

[_CameronMO]

My thoughts are with you and your family.

[_Bazooka]

Kevin, this is devastating news, I'm gutted for your brother and the extended family.

I think, apart from the conditions physical impact on your niece, you are going to be faced with your brother and his wife's potential for blaming themselves. The condition (if I've read the link right) is inherited from them both and that will undoubtedly hit home with them in a massive way either now or in the future. I have no words that can express sufficient feeling or compassion for such a terrible and tragic situation. I think, at the right moment, encouraging your brother and his wife to talk with some professional who can help counsel them through whatever feelings are going to hit them would probably be more beneficial than prayer.

But like I said, I cannot comprehend the gut wrench that this must be. I feel for you and yours.