Hannah Jones: ‘It’s hard to know I’m going to die’
p2pnet news view | Off Topic:- A terminally-ill 13-year-old girl has persuaded a hospital to abandon legal action that could have forced her to have a potentially life-saving heart transplant against her will.
The Independent, UK
Her story has dominated headlines this week, and people have found themselves staring sadly at her serious young face, unsmiling and freckled, looking back at them from newspaper pages. “I’m not a normal 13-year-old,” she told reporters this week, short of breath and speaking in clipped sentences. “I’m a deep thinker. I’ve had to be, with my illness. It’s hard, at 13, to know I’m going to die. But I also know what’s best for me.”
The Washington Post, USA
Doctors at the hospital in Hereford, England suggested she undergo a heart transplant, though they were not sure if the borrowed heart would survive for long. Prolonged treatment since she was five caused a hole in Hannah’s heart. The heart may give up any day as her immune system is quite weak. Hannah had stopped all treatment to prevent further damage to her heart. And that’s when the drama began.
Hindustan Times, India
Last year, Hannah became critically ill and had three operations to fit a multi-pacer to make her heart beat more strongly. She also suffered a collapsed lung during the seven months in hospital. Doctors gave her six months to live and warned that the only potential long-term solution was a heart transplant. They warned her that even if it was successful, the drugs used to prevent her body from rejecting the new heart could prompt a recurrence of leukaemia. ‘They explained everything to me but I just didn’t want to go through any more operations,’ she said.
The Straits Times, Malaysia
Hannah’s parents have faced criticism for allowing her to make such a decision. “I know many people will think that we should force Hannah to have the heart transplant operation,” says Hannah’s mother, Kirsty, an intensive care nurse, “especially as it at least offers the chance to prolong her life. “But until you have walked 24 hours a day, seven days a week in my shoes, you don’t understand. Doing my job, as a nurse in intensive care, I have seen so many children suffering like Hannah.
Herald Sun, Australia
Hannah will now to spend her remaining days with her parents and siblings Oliver, 11, Lucy, 10, and four year-old Phoebe.
Deutsche Welle, Germany
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November 16th, 2008 at 3:19 am
Hannah should read “Old Souls” before she dies.
http://www.amazon.com/Old-Souls-Compelling-Evidence-Children/dp/0684851938/ref=ed_oe_p
November 18th, 2008 at 4:29 am
^ It’s like she keeps being told what to do.
November 20th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Oh boy, this is really really sad, but at the same time I understand her and her parents.
I have a 16-year old and when he is sick I sometimes I don’t even know what to do and I really have to control myself so my kid doesn’t feel worse–he needs to know we are in control of the situation.
I can’t imagine being in a situation like this, seeing your kid suffer for years, spending hours and hours in hospitals.
She is 13 years old and she’s the one going through all these (most of the time) painful treatments. If she does not want to have any more surgeries, we should all respect that. I’m sure is very painful for her parents, but they’re obviously strong people who are trying to be there for her.
December 4th, 2008 at 2:52 am
*HANNAH*: THIS IS FOR YOU IN CAPS
I THINK IMMUNE SUPRESSION FOR YOUR NEW HEART AND THE LEVEL FOR CANCER GROWTH ARE DIFFERENT.
Thus, the doctors may be able to reduce the risk to usual levels! Do you know what I mean? The doctors are scared
of the cancer, as am I, but have they at least determined the levels? I am a SCIENTIST, and I think the data for the
levels required is out there! We know what levels are required to prevent cancer from your experience! (Note: I get
sick as much now as when I was 5.) Plus, the level needed for your new heart may be determined right now – without
going near the cancer level at all!
Maybe I am optimistic and the doctors checked, but life is full of warriors and victims, so I would at least ask to
have my data.
********************
My instincts tell me that we all have cancer, and if your NK Cells (the ones that clean us) are busy working on
extra cancer, than they will be less likely to reject your new heart.
I wonder if the concept of Immune Supression has confused the doctors, and REALLY you have a greater chance of
accepting your new heart than someone without a history of cancer!
Please everyone Read This:
i.e. When I need a new heart, I need to supress my immune system. But, if I also had cancer, I wouldn’t have to
lower the system as much, since the clean-up cells would be focusing more on my cancer. This may seem like a play on
persective, but at any rate, the data is available. And if no body helps, how many more people need to make adult
decisions, at 13 (perhaps 4 or 5??), without help, or data?
*****************************
Im 24, Canadian, and I just got my B.E.Sc. and B.Sc. Life is what we make, and I’m still learning to have fun!
Healthy life might be our next Christmas present!