As most weeks are, this has been one of ups and downs. But the very big "up" this week is one that brings me more joy than anything but the birth of my children and my wedding day: my daughter's allergy tests suggest she is very likely free of her peanut allergy.
For those of you fortunate enough not to have food allergies in your lives, this probably doesn't sound like a big deal. For those of you who actually know what this is like, I know you rejoice for me whether you know me or not, because nobody should have to live with a life-threatening food allergy and all that goes with it. To have gotten the news that her skin test showed only the tiniest weal, and her bloodwork actually came back *NEGATIVE* for peanut antigen, and that she is now clearly eligible for a food challenge to determine once and for all if she is actually actively allergic to peanuts, is like being released from a medical prison. True, she has not yet passed the food challenge, so we're not out of the woods yet. It's more akin to hearing that the "real" killer has confessed, so while you're technically still incarcerated, the likelihood of your release is almost certain. But we'll take it.
I dream of the day when my daughter can split a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with me. When she can go to a friend's birthday party without my having had to do a complete menu review with the child's mother ahead of time and then bring a special cupcake for my daughter anyway just to be safe. When we can take her to the town fair and let her have an ice cream cone or funnel cake and enjoy the event the way every other kid can. When she can take an airplane trip - at all. I dream of not having to worry - on top of all the other things parents have to worry about - that she will be out of my sight someday, whether at age 5 or 15 or 50 - and will either be careless or the victim of someone else's carelessness and end up in the emergency room - or worse - because she was inadvertently exposed to a food that could kill her. I dream of a life unimpeded by all the restrictions a life-threatening food allergy necessitates. And folks, I just might not have to dream much longer.
Every prayer is welcome that this particular nightmare will soon be over.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Tribute
I just saw an obituary today that makes me both sad and joyful. A woman I didn't know very well but who had, unbeknownst to her, a truly profound impact on me as a young woman, passed away today - nearly 22 years after her only son.
My heart is heavy for the loss; while I haven't seen her since her son's memorial service 22 years ago, it was that day that I learned from her a tremendous lesson about faith. At what had to be the most difficult, heartwrenching moment of her life, she comforted me, and went on to speak at the service about how, sad as she was to lose him in this life, she knew with every ounce of her being that her son was in a better place, personally called home by God. I couldn't fully understand at the time how she could be so calm and so forgiving at what was clearly such an unfair tragedy, but what I definitely understood at that moment for the first time and perhaps more poignantly than any time before or since, was the power that faith holds for those who are fortunate enough to find it. Here was a person facing grief beyond measure, and yet she was comforted and at peace, entirely and solely because she believed. I have never forgotten her composure, her love, or the strength of faith she displayed that day, and I thank her for a contribution to my life that she probably never knew she made, but which means more to me than she could ever have known, even if I had told her.
At the same time, I am thrilled for her - happy that she is finally at rest after a long illness, that she can finally be reunited with her son, and that she is able to finally meet the Lord in which she had such an abounding faith. May heaven exceed your every expectation, Sherri, and may you rest eternally in God's peace. Thank you.
My heart is heavy for the loss; while I haven't seen her since her son's memorial service 22 years ago, it was that day that I learned from her a tremendous lesson about faith. At what had to be the most difficult, heartwrenching moment of her life, she comforted me, and went on to speak at the service about how, sad as she was to lose him in this life, she knew with every ounce of her being that her son was in a better place, personally called home by God. I couldn't fully understand at the time how she could be so calm and so forgiving at what was clearly such an unfair tragedy, but what I definitely understood at that moment for the first time and perhaps more poignantly than any time before or since, was the power that faith holds for those who are fortunate enough to find it. Here was a person facing grief beyond measure, and yet she was comforted and at peace, entirely and solely because she believed. I have never forgotten her composure, her love, or the strength of faith she displayed that day, and I thank her for a contribution to my life that she probably never knew she made, but which means more to me than she could ever have known, even if I had told her.
At the same time, I am thrilled for her - happy that she is finally at rest after a long illness, that she can finally be reunited with her son, and that she is able to finally meet the Lord in which she had such an abounding faith. May heaven exceed your every expectation, Sherri, and may you rest eternally in God's peace. Thank you.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Sounding Off
Today's news story featured the upcoming execution of the DC Sniper, John Allen Mohammed, slated for November 10th. Naturally, there's an appeal, but the news story was from the angle that one of the jurors is now recanting her participation in recommending the death penalty. Seems that post-trial, now that she's read all the news, she's decided that had the jury been given information about Mohammed's abuse as a child leading to an alleged "diminished mental capacity," she wouldn't have voted for the death penalty. Her testimony to that fact is now entered as part of the appeal.
I'm sorry, but I am absolutely outraged by this whole idea. I like to think I'm a compassionate person, and I will agree that the administration of the death penalty in this country leaves a lot to be desired. However, we have a guy here who is clearly, unequivocally identified as the cold-blooded killer of 10 people (and wounder of three others, including a child). Witnesses, including his underage accomplice, testified that he repeatedly talked about the killings as something that would confirm his power and ability to terrify. Not that killing is ever acceptable, but this guy wasn't going after people who had done him wrong, or who had done society wrong. He wasn't killing his abuser. He was picking off strangers at random, for no reason other than that they were good targets on that given day.
I don't care what happened to him as a child, nor what lingering effect that may have had on his thought process: HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING WAS WRONG. He was an adult, capable of being responsible for his actions, and he maliciously and with full intent to murder, not only went after innocent people but took a minor child along with him for the ride, training him as a co-assassin. There is absolutely no reason he should be exempted from the death penalty for not one but multiple capital offenses. Past abuse does not absolve one from responsibility for obeying the law and living by the rules of civilized society.
We can argue the value of the death penalty as a form of punishment or deterrent some other time (for the record, I'm for it, just not the way we go about it). But here, we are not talking about someone who can be redeemed, who will be rehabilitated. This is not someone who is even remorseful. There is absolutely no reason for us to say, "hey, this penalty is really too harsh." He killed ten innocent people for no reason at all, and terrorized a community for weeks. Frankly, he's getting off easy.
I'm sorry, but I am absolutely outraged by this whole idea. I like to think I'm a compassionate person, and I will agree that the administration of the death penalty in this country leaves a lot to be desired. However, we have a guy here who is clearly, unequivocally identified as the cold-blooded killer of 10 people (and wounder of three others, including a child). Witnesses, including his underage accomplice, testified that he repeatedly talked about the killings as something that would confirm his power and ability to terrify. Not that killing is ever acceptable, but this guy wasn't going after people who had done him wrong, or who had done society wrong. He wasn't killing his abuser. He was picking off strangers at random, for no reason other than that they were good targets on that given day.
I don't care what happened to him as a child, nor what lingering effect that may have had on his thought process: HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING WAS WRONG. He was an adult, capable of being responsible for his actions, and he maliciously and with full intent to murder, not only went after innocent people but took a minor child along with him for the ride, training him as a co-assassin. There is absolutely no reason he should be exempted from the death penalty for not one but multiple capital offenses. Past abuse does not absolve one from responsibility for obeying the law and living by the rules of civilized society.
We can argue the value of the death penalty as a form of punishment or deterrent some other time (for the record, I'm for it, just not the way we go about it). But here, we are not talking about someone who can be redeemed, who will be rehabilitated. This is not someone who is even remorseful. There is absolutely no reason for us to say, "hey, this penalty is really too harsh." He killed ten innocent people for no reason at all, and terrorized a community for weeks. Frankly, he's getting off easy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)