I understand where you are coming from, Dana. Betsy has upset me quite often, but not in a personal way.
However,
Betsy has a few strong points that I know of where I find her an asset to this board. One, when I was contemplating the surgery for my daughter, I didn't really now all the facts from both sides. I was honestly on the fence with our decision and I wanted to be educated before emotional. She provided a lot of information for the other side that were referenced and lead me further. Others who may be on the fence might decide not to have the surgery because they might not have realized the risk and be in an environment where the cosmetic portion isn't an issue and won't be.
Being that Betsy has CAH and had the surgery a long time ago make her a wonderul CAH representative in the respect that we can see what would happen if we didn't consider this aspect of CAH as being a serious one and making sure that if you do elect to have the surgery, you don't make the decision lightly or with just any doctor. Raising awareness is a good thing.
I would hope that my daughter be as smart as Betsy in regards to keeping herself alive. Her personal stories let me know that even when things can get really rough financially, levels of personal stress are peaked, medications are not around for awhile etc. she can still keep herself alive and as feisty as ever. I can't deny that all these personal examples have helped and relieved me more than once. Even to know that Betsy is a smoker is one more positive thing I know about CAH in general. I make the mental note that my daughter could be a smoker and if everything else is in line she might die of cancer but it isn't going to be from CAH. It relieves my mind in a sort of strange way:)
In all Betsy's ranting and raving I have learned where the surgery debate stands in the outside world. Where protests are, where laws are being made in regards to surgery, where people are making decisions for us..... I am made aware of all of this so when I see it actually progressing to where my voice might truly need to be heard, I will know. She is informative.
These are just a few examples but you get the idea?
Again, Betsy can make some outrageous remarks on this subject. Danny has even said essentially the same thing as far as what is considered "mutilation" but look at all the positives each of them provide overall? I look at the positives and negatives and if they were not both represented, we would not be as broadly educated about our children's condition.
If there is controversy on the main board, I believe it is moved here. If there is something beyond controversy on here, I believe it is taken it off the board.
I've spent so much of my time trying to keep my child alive, balanced, and happy that thinking of myself or any other parent/grandparent (that is obviously here to gain and share knowledge for their much loved children) as mutilators or people who need labotomies as being utterly ridiculous and only being used for attention and shock value. The overall idea is bigger than this distraction and we know that. I get pretty "momentarily" mad at Betsy and the others who I think are wrong and it's natural. I know she is probably quite used to it but I don't like to see anyone attacked personally.
RebeccaM
