Young girl battles leukemia;

Sarah Hershberger is a normal ten year old from Ohio with imagination and dreams just like the rest of the young girls in the world. But, one obstacle she is overcoming is facing a demanding illness – leukemia. A cancer that quickly spreads and needs to be treated through chemotherapy.
Although, Hershberger comes from a traditional Amish family that have always valued their morals and beliefs. They believe chemotherapy is not the best option and she should be treated through natural remedies.
During August, Hershberger’s family was taken to court and the court ruled that the attorney had limited guardianship over the girl to make medical decisions for her. However in September, the court sided with the parents and Hershberger was taken off chemotherapy because the court stated they cannot take away a parent’s rights.
On October 1, an appeals court overturned the judge’s decision and the attorney currently has temporary custody so they can give the girl chemotherapy.
Hershberger needs to receive treatment because it increases her chance of survival. The girl is extremely young and deserves to live. Even though it is against their religion, Hershberger’s family should be blessed that there are doctors in the medical field to save their daughter’s life. She does not deserve to suffer. Even if the chemo is making their daughter sick for a few months, it will allow her to continue to live a life full of memories.
Hershberger has tumors on her neck, chest, and kidneys, but her parents decided to stop treatment because they believe the side effects were terrible and it made her too sick. Although she will be going through chemotherapy because of the court ruling.
The family believes that her death will be more painful through chemotherapy than a natural death.
“The courts right and the child should receive chemo because it’s not fair for that child to suffer. Treatment options should be offered to everyone no matter what their belief is,” said senior Caitlin O’Sullivan.
However, doctors at the Akron Children’s Hospital believe Hershberger has an 85 percent chance of survival if she receives chemotherapy. Without this treatment, they believe she will die within a year.
Cutting Hershberger’s life short is unnecessary because she can receive treatment simply. The court should have the power to overrule the parent’s decision because it is a matter between life and death for the young girl. It would be a large regret on the parent’s part if the child passed away when they knew chemotherapy was an option to save the child’s life.
“Our belief is the natural stuff will do just as much as that stuff if it’s God’s will,” said father Andy Hershberger.
Although the Amish culture is sacred to their traditions, when it comes to a situation to either life or death, any possibility should be taken advantage of. This girl is only ten years old and deserves the right to continue her life. Her parents should never hold her back from this decision even if she is too young to understand. This girl has a life to look forward to and it should never be cut short.