This comment is left in my previous posting. I shall reply in another posting.
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Dear Ms Lilian,
I work in a NICU and I have admired your dedication to the cause of sick kids and their families.
However, I have something serious to say about your opinions on FongMC I feel you have been too judgmental on Fong MC. I’m sorry I have to remain anonymous. There are medical information here which are confidential and cannot be disclosed in detail as required by medical ethics.
Mrs Fong has a serious illness herself and she also had a son who died in NICU because of a neurological condition. That is how I got to know the family well. However, they are unwilling to get involved into another round of names-calling by bloggers. I think you need to know that their two surviving children are her salvation and hope.
I cannot defend or explain what Fong MC really meant in the e-mail. Please read the original e-mail to minishorts and see their fears and pain. The fact that her daughter brought to the parents’ attention of the blog was telling. She had been taught well and certainly not too sheltered, in my opinion. The fact remains that no one can control anyone or anything on the web. They feel that they are just doing their bit in the hope that self-regulation by bloggers is the way to go to protect the kids. The media has a role to play in that irresponsible bloggers, e.g. blogging on use of recreational drugs, use of expletives in classic fairy tales do not deserve any prime time news. Fairy tales may have their morals to tell but not profanities. I believe it is the culture of rudeness that Fong MC is talking about. Most people will agree children should not be over-protected.
What about parents who are unable to help their kids? Not everyone or family is lucky to survive on a single income alone. Sometimes, both parents struggled to get things going. They can’t manage to supervise their kids all the time.
Many of my patients’ parents have had a tough time juggling between home, hospital and work. Please do not add on to their worries. Every little bit helps. That, I feel, is the essence of the plea from Fong MC.
The Fongs are not living in their own world. They are living for other parents’ kids as well.
I’m sorry that you choose to ignore that. Please be kind and open you own eyes wider as well.
Respectfully,
NICU doctor
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