Here I go again, getting a bit more personal on my blog.

I've followed the story of Abraham Cherrix since I first heard about him earlier this month. To summarize, he's a cancer patient that took three months of chemo, decided he didn't want to take it anymore, and researched and found alternative methods to fight cancer. He, and his family, faced going to court because a social worker wanted him to continue conventional treatment. And now, the court orders him to undergo chemotherapy treatment.

This rubs me wrong on a couple levels. First, the courts shouldn't be forcing anyone to undergo any treatment. I'm a conservative… the courts have their purpose, and I do not think this is one of them. They've basically said, "You're too stupid to choose the treatment for your disease, despite all the research you've put into it." I realize the guy is still a minor, but at sixteen, most people are able to make tough decisions, and Abraham certainly did his research. The decision he made was not made lightly, I know that for sure.

Second, I've had the displeasure of seeing firsthand what chemo does to a person. If the disease doesn't make you sick as hell, the treatment does. For over a year, I had to watch this person go through hell and back; it was extremely painful for her, and it was painful for me because I couldn't do squat to help her. And in many cases, chemo has lasting affects that the patient will feel for the remainder of his or her life. It's been years since her last treatment, yet she can barely make it through the work day without becoming completely exhausted. Her migraines are horrible, and nausea, while better, still plagues her from time to time. We're both grateful for the treatment because she's here today. We prayed everyday seeking the proper treatment, and we both believe she got what she needed. But I'm human, and many times I wish there was something else we could've done that would not have the life-long side effects she faces today.

Chemotherapy is hell on earth, and if someone doesn't want to go through it, that's their right. I don't blame Abraham one bit for wanting to take an alternative treatment; I wish the courts had the same mentality.