Who Will Flip the Switch? – This One’s for Parker

When I started Lily’s blog back in 2008  it was so family and friends could follow her journey while making the movie The Jerk Theory (no it never came out in the U.S. and I don’t think it will). It has progressed since then to her fun Lilyisms antics and her journey into a teenager.

I have kept this blog mostly religion free until this year when she turned 12 and became a “Young Woman” in our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This is her life now. She loves Young Women and her church and so this is the path we will take on her blog.

The other thing I have stayed clear from is politics. This is not the place for that. But today is different. Today I will speak up for Parker.  I am also speaking up for Ashley and Amelia, but Parker is why this post really started.

The first thing I noticed about Parker were his eyes. He has these enormous beautiful eyes that speak to my soul. Then he smiles at you. If you are not hooked after that smile there is something seriously wrong with you. He is a cool kid; he loves to swing, he loves to learn, he loves to explore, he loves his family. Sounds like a typical kid to me. There is more to Parker though. Parker teaches people. Parker changes people. Parker motivates people. Way down the list of all the things Parker is there is also the fact that Parker is medically fragile. He also has Down syndrome. His mama and the rest of his family work hard to keep Parker alive.

So how do these three individuals, Parker, Ashley, and Amelia end up in the same post? They are all fighting to stay alive. They all need some type of medical equipment, supply, or procedure to stay alive.  Unfortunately, there are some people who think the world would better off without Parker, Ashley, and Amelia.  To some they are all burdens to society. To some they have no value. They need taxpayers money to stay alive.  And believe it or not some taxpayers don’t think their hard earned money should go to these kids to help keep them alive.

I have to wonder where things went so wrong that a road has more value than a human being? Why do we continue to allow the government to bail out failing car dealerships and banks over and over again only to have them turn around and pay out big bonuses to the important people? And what about our wonderful health care system that just continues to spiral out of control?

Why isn’t Parker important? He has taught his parents about frugal living, who in turn shares and educates the public on how to live within their means. He has made his mama think outside the box on how to teach him and you bet she shares her  stuff. He has challenged and puzzled his doctors so they think, search, and educate themselves thus helping other patients. Why do we have to end his life before ending all the special privileges, bonuses, trips, and all the other unnecessary items that politicians get?

Parker has taught me more than any politician ever will.

When will this stop?

Who will be next on the list of not having enough value to live? I was thinking maybe the good white girls around 18 whose father’s run for office. What value do they really have? I mean let’s think about it… they apply for all these grants and scholarships to get into an affluent college only to meet a guy who wants a trophy wife. So she drops out of college wasting a perfectly good grant that could have gone to  someone more deserving. Then she starts having babies. Oh my, what if she gave birth to a baby with a disability? Would grandpa have enough guts to flip the switch?

So I want to know from all the people who left opposing viewpoints on Parker’s blog pretty much stating that he has no value which one of you is going to step up and flip the switch to his vent so he can die? Jennifer you said this about Parker - Parker is wonderful, he has charm and he has enriched your life. But, has he contributed to the well-being of every person who has paid for his medical treatments? Jennifer will you be the one to flip his switch? Also Jennifer what have you contributed to the world to make it a better place?

To the politicians out there. I don’t need another freeway. I seriously don’t think you need a pay raise or a free trip to anywhere. I think the rich should be taxed. I think corporate America needs to bring their products back to America so we can buy American made products. And if you have to raise my taxes to keep Parker, Ashley, and Amelia alive please do because they make me a better, richer person.