Last year I told you about The Butterfly Circus, a beautiful film with a beautiful message of hope and the dignity of the human person, which won first prize in the Doorpost Film Project. In the last year The Butterfly Circus has won several other film festival awards and, ironically, Joshua Weigel, writer, director and producer of The Butterfly Circus, … Read More
27 Yr. Old Quadriplegic Wants to Die
27 year old Dan Crews was paralyzed in a car accident when he was 3 years old. He is paralyzed from the neck down and though he can speak and eat, his diaphragm muscles cannot move air through his lungs so he must be hooked to a ventilator in order to breathe. He’s lived this way for 24 years. He … Read More
Finding Molly
This is a beautiful, but also heartbreaking story about a man, after about 50 years, reuniting with his sister who was sent away to an institution for physically and mentally disabled children when she was three years old (h/t Creative Minority Report): I’m thankful for the ways in which we have tried to welcome the disabled into society, but has … Read More
Man Shoots Wife, Daily News Takes Poll *Updated*
In Southern California, an 88 year old man shot his wife, who had “dementia and crippling infirmity” that “robbed her of her ability to walk, sit up, feed herself or recognize visitors,” in the head to end her suffering. The NY Daily News is polling its readers. Sadly, I’m not surprised by these results (as of 6 am), though support … Read More
Assisted Suicide: the Musical
You may recall that a few years ago Clint Eastwood dramatized the life of a female boxer who becomes paralyzed and seeks suicide help from her trainer. The latest attempt to disparage the lives of disabled people and promote assisted suicide through popular culture comes from India where a similar film opened this weekend. In this film the main character … Read More
JP II, the Church on Withdrawing Nutrition and Hydration
Last week I talked about withdrawing nutrition and hydration from sick and disabled people using a passage from Pope Benedict’s encyclical Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth) on every human beings basic right to receive food and water. I forgot that in 2004 John Paul II discussed this issue specifically in an address to participants in the International Congress on … Read More
Boy Records Rap Song to Celebrate His Sister With Special Needs
I can’t wait till next Monday to post this song. Seven year old “MattyB” has dedicated a song to his younger sister with Down syndrome (h/t Live Action). Sweet. Beautiful. And over 2 million views on YouTube since August! Way to reach a large audience with a positive message about children with Down syndrome! This song can be downloaded on … Read More
Music for Your Monday: Grace is Dancing
“Grace is Dancing” is a very moving song by Tyrone Wells about a little girl with Down syndrome. In the video below, Tyrone tells the story of Grace’s birth and how she survived against all odds (h/t Rebecca Taylor): What a lovely testament to the life of this young girl and, yet, how sad, too, to know that the overwhelming … Read More
“When Life Gives You Wheelchair, Make Lemonade”
Ok, after struggling through the last couple of posts, I need some lighter fare. This is Zach Anner, an actor/comedian who has cerebral palsy. This summer Zach entered a contest for his own show on Oprah’s new cable television network. He’s hilarious: Watch more of Zach’s comedy on his YouTube channel. He’s also part of an acting group that makes … Read More
Locked-In Quadriplegic: “All Life is Worth Living”
Excellent! France has awarded its Legion of Honor to a woman who has been a locked-in quadriplegic for 30 years (h/t Wesley Smith). And, get this: it’s for her fight against euthanasia and assisted suicide! Maryannick Pavageau (shown here with her daughter Myriam (r) and Senator Monique Papon (l), who bestowed the award) had a stroke which left her completely … Read More