Shweta and Rahul were married for 3 years. Though an arranged marriage, both believed they had indeed found their soul mates. The three years of marriage just flew by amidst splendid moments spent with each other. Both were simply and genuinely happy. They planned for a new member in their lovely lives.
Rahul remembered the day when Shweta called him to say that he was to become a father soon. They had made a long list of names to choose from – both boys’ and girls’. They debated for hours about many aspects of life after the new member graces their lives. Shweta wanted a baby girl. Rahul wanted Shweta to remain happy, always.
He was now waiting outside the theatre for the operation to get over. Doctor had just informed that it will be a caesarian. Rahul worried for Shweta. After many anxious minutes, the doctor broke out the news that there were some complications. The baby was still-born, and was immediately kept on a ventilator. It was a baby girl. Shweta’s desire had come true...almost. There were signs that the baby was responding, but it would be too early to decide on her fate. Someone had to break this news to Shweta. Rahul did. Neither spoke for few dreadful moments. Someone had to. It was the nurse. Doctor was calling Rahul for a small chat.
The baby girl was breathing fine now, though with a support system. But a part of brain cells were shown dead in the tests. Those cells controlled the muscles of the body. Meaning, the body can never do anything that needed any muscle to be utilized. And that included eating and drinking. Never in her entire life!
10 days had passed since the nightmarish day. The support system still kept the baby live. Baby’s name was to be kept Shreya. Doctors had freezed on what they finally thought. Shreya could live without support after few months. But she would never be able do anything on her own. A tube will be used to feed her too. She won’t be able to speak, tongue being a muscle too. She had to be taken care of always. Every living moment.
Doctors wanted Rahul and Shweta to make a decision – should the support system be taken off?
Yes? So that they could take all the future pains of Shreya on themselves. So that they could avoid a day when Shreya perhaps would want to know why they decided to let her live like a piece of furniture?
No? And struggle to give whatever they have to make her life as beautiful as they could. Shreya was their baby end of the day. The baby that they had waited for months. Basically, avoid feeling guilty anytime in the future and let Shreya take her part of the pain?
What would you have decided?
7 comments:
Sir, this is a very emotional one...but its a real one..1 of my friends sister has given birth to such a baby..and they decided to take care of her..
I SALUTE All such BRAVE PARENTS.
To be honest i dnt knw wat wud i decide...may b i wud take care of child.
Really, an emotional scenario. But if I was in her place , I must have allowed the doctor to take the support system. I know Shreya is my baby, but what will she do in her future , just lying on the bed. Better allow her to ..................
I would allow it live...we have no right to take someone elses life
Its very very emotional & scary thought. God helps those who is suffering from this situation & hope no one else in this world will suffer this type of situation in future.
Very emotional thought...I know we dont have the right to take anybody's life,but the question to be asekd here is 'Would we have ourself liked to live such a life'..Can the parents bring about themselves to see their precious child living such a painful existence day-in & day-out? Wouldnt it be better for Shreya & her parents,if......
But Lots of ifs & buts here...God save people from making such choices!
Quite agree. Personally, would have took on the guilt on me for the rest of my life and spare Shreya the pain. Only contrary thought that comes to my mind is what Arun said above - we do not have a right to take somebody's life. If GOD has decided to let Shreya live like that, we must allow her to.
Phew.. really tough. The more I think about it, becomes scarier.
Yes, God has pre-ordained that Shreya is to live such life. But, can't help thinking that,if we don't have the right to kill anybody, we should neither kill a man for murdering somebody else nor punish anybody for the 'rarest of rare crimes', because God himself has ordained that he is to live his life in such a negative manner! Neither should any war have happened either. In all such cases, we don't really bother about God's diktat, do we?
Just a personal view...like every person has a right to live life with dignity, similarly every person has the right to die with dignity too...And it just doesn't apply in Shreya's case, but in all cases where voluntary euthanasia is questioned.
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