Child In Faith-Healing Case Continues To Improve

By Steve Mayes
Religion News Service

OREGON CITY, Ore. (RNS) A 13-month-old child who faced blindness in one eye after her parents treated her with prayer instead of seeking medical care continues to improve, a state caseworker told a juvenile court.

Doctors treating Alayna Wyland said a growth over the girl's left eye continues to shrink. Her vision is now 20/360, and surgery will not be needed, they said.

The Oregon Department of Human Services has had custody of the girl since July after learning she had a massive, untreated hemangioma -- an abnormal buildup of blood vessels -- growing over her left eye. Her parents, Timothy and Rebecca Wyland, belong to the Followers of Christ,
an Oregon City church that practices faith healing.

A DHS caseworker and a court-appointed special advocate said Thursday (Feb. 10) the Wylands have fully complied with a court order to provide proper medical care. Circuit Judge Douglas S. Van Dyk then agreed to drop a requirement for video verification the girl was receiving medication.

"They've earned a certain amount of trust," Van Dyk said.

The Wylands are charged with first-degree criminal mistreatment in their daughter's care. Their trial begins May 19.

Comments

[CAMBEL]

05:30 PM on 02/18/2011

Funny how the same people that are against abortion think nothing of letting their children die or become disfigured when cures are within reach.

[Bob Wood]

07:37 PM on 02/16/2011

Add up the number of people praying for a cure to illness, without resorting to medical assistance...and divide by the number of actual cures. You will get something called coincidence. I'd be willing to bet on it...(sigh)

[chaya]

03:30 PM on 02/16/2011

There are a great many people in America who don't believe gays and lesbians should be allowed to parent. They make adoption off-limits to them and refuse to provide them with the civil rights that would support them as families.

Yet fanatical Christian couples all over America are refusing to provide their children with medical treatment or allow them to receive a decent education.

And we apparently think that's just great.

[StevieRayB]

02:15 PM on 02/16/2011

Where's Oral Roberts when you need him !!

[Forester]

12:36 PM on 02/16/2011

Somewhat OT, but I finished the New Yorker piece on Paul Haggis and Scientology last night, and I am still disturbed by what I read.

Americans should know about how this c ult is growing with impunity. Very scary stuff.

[Israel4Ever]

09:55 AM on 02/16/2011

This should be a strictly court action and the fact that the kid healed has no bearing on the case. I don't think we need any new legislation to manage this, either. Neglect is neglect...simple as that. Doesn't matter if you do it because an invisible man in the sky told you to or because your daddy beat you or because you had a bad day at the office or because the dog is in your head chanting Kipling...neglect is neglect...

[AlexMargolis]

01:38 AM on 02/16/2011

This is a typical example of HuffPo anti-science. Here we have an article with a title that is essentially suggesting that faith-healing works. Why not title the article "Child with brown hair continues to improve."

Also, let's note that HuffPo decides to include articles like this, and the one about learning homeopathy, but makes no mention of the new flu vaccine that protects against all strains of virus.
If HuffPo decided our nation's health policy, we would be one very, very ill country.

[Israel4Ever]

09:52 AM on 02/16/2011

Agreed. Why not cite the percentages of Hermangiomas of this nature that heal by themselves in the the general (read, not religioius nutbag) population?

HuffPo and New Age Religious swooning...two bad tastest that taste bad together.

[conservo]

09:23 PM on 02/15/2011

It seems to me that if someone prays to heal their child (in the name of faith)....and their child, then, dies---then that would certainly be enough evidence for one to re-think their faith. If that doesn't do it then I don't know what would.

[Fattonecat]

01:29 AM on 02/16/2011

They just chalk it up to "gods will"

[ionthegravity]

08:45 PM on 02/23/2011

yep....it neatly absolves them of all responsibility.

[conservo]

09:02 PM on 02/15/2011

The courts really need to start coming down hard on these "faith healing" parents. If you insist on believing in ancient mythology--fine. But, please don't push this stuff on children...and, by all means, please don't force it on them. To do so is child abuse.
These folks who deny their kids medical care because they believe the tooth fairy will heal them should have every one of their kids taken into the care of Child Protective Services, should NEVER be allowed to be in a position to care for another child ...and if a child dies in their care (after being refused medical care)-----they should be charged with murder and if convicted, should be given such a lengthy prison term that they will never be able to harm another child again.

[mrrobinson2u]

04:29 PM on 02/16/2011

Agreed...if you're an adult and this sort of healing is what blows your skirt...then run with it. If your kid is sick...get the kid help. Period. You can pray all you want while the kid is in the doctor's office.

[JacinFlag]

08:12 PM on 02/15/2011

Glad the parents are doing the right thing and respecting the court's orders. A similar case occurred last year when a court had to intervene and order a teen to undergo chemotherapy after his family attempted to treat his cancer with herbal remedies based on religious beliefs: http://www.askthejudge.info/court-orders-teen-with-cancer-to-undergo-medical-treatment/1411/

[SF TKF]

05:57 PM on 02/15/2011

Wow, that was a misleading headline.

[ninetailedfox]

05:09 PM on 02/15/2011

I know atheists dont like any kind of theists. At least the Pagans had enough sense to use nature's healers, then modern medicine when it advanced to that.

[Bob Wood]

07:26 PM on 02/15/2011

Oh please ninetailfox...I'm an atheist and I like all kinds of theists, including pagans. Natures healers are great...but it's the 21st century and the probability of cures lies with modern medicine rather than with prayer...(sigh)

[ninetailedfox]

07:40 PM on 02/15/2011

native americans used many herbs for many things. Shows the chasm between christians and the old way Pagans ya know?

[ninetailedfox]

05:01 PM on 02/15/2011

I have a feeling this poor girl will lose her eye. When will christians learn? Faith healing is a crock.

[NadineColbert]

04:23 PM on 02/15/2011

If the the courts have power to make parents get treatment for children, the right thing to do, why can't they help parents get with mentally ill adult childrenn get treatment. Perhaps with that type of support, we would not have the type of shooting like the one in Tuscon.
There should be more help for families of adults with mental illnesses.

[ninetailedfox]

05:02 PM on 02/15/2011

The parents themselves are mentally ill. Thats a no brainer.

[jestermarcus]

03:25 PM on 02/15/2011

But Jesus promised he would make her better!!! And not one person in history has been led astray when listening to voices in their head talk to them. Not one.......ever......I think.

[onionboy]

03:27 PM on 02/15/2011

The voices in my head have never led me astray...at least, that's what they told me to write.

Well, gotta go buy some guns and ammunition. Talk to ya' later!

[jestermarcus]

03:32 PM on 02/15/2011

Enjoy! See everyone, Jesus has saved another sole! Go spread the bullets of Jesus throughout the land!