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BlueWaveNeverEnd

(13,664 posts)
Sat Feb 21, 2026, 11:03 PM Saturday

South Carolina: yMom of 7-year-old hospitalized with brain swelling from measles: 'I still wouldn't have given my son th

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/measles-encephalitis-south-carolina-anti-vaccine-b2918500.html?test_group=lighteradlayout


Mom of 7-year-old hospitalized with brain swelling from measles: ‘I still wouldn’t have given my son the vaccine’


EXCLUSIVE: South Carolina parents living in the state’s measles epicenter tell Rhian Lubin of their devastation after their unvaccinated 7-year-old son, Ethan, developed encephalitis, a complication from the virus that causes swelling and inflammation in the brain
.


Six weeks ago, Ethan was like most 7-year-olds — spending the weekend riding his new bike or playing Minecraft on his iPad on a rainy day.

----.”

Instead, since late January, the schoolboy has been confined to a hospital bed with measles encephalitis, a complication that causes swelling and inflammation in the brain. “He's pretty much as if he was paralyzed,” his devastated father, 41, told The Independent in a phone interview from his son’s hospital bedside

Ethan’s parents decided not to immunize him against measles as they did with his three brothers. Three out of four of them contracted measles. Still, despite Ethan’s ordeal, his mom stands by their decision. “We’re not blaming God for this,” said 35-year-old Kristina. “Yes, it hurts, of course, it hurts. But God has chosen Ethan for a reason. God is doing something, and we're gonna glorify his name regardless.

“And we wouldn't change it any other way,” the mom continued. “If I knew this could be the outcome, I still wouldn't have given my son the vaccine.”
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South Carolina: yMom of 7-year-old hospitalized with brain swelling from measles: 'I still wouldn't have given my son th (Original Post) BlueWaveNeverEnd Saturday OP
Child abuse. Permanut Saturday #1
Yeah BlueWaveNeverEnd Saturday #6
I believe this, too. HeartsCanHope Yesterday #14
My thoughts exactly. n/t DFW Yesterday #16
Attempted murder. nt Justice matters. Yesterday #17
It is. efhmc 18 hrs ago #51
Yes. Scott Alan Swaggerty 19 hrs ago #43
The number of idiots in this country always amazes me...the lady will let her kid die because of Gawwwd... wcmagumba Saturday #2
God told her not to vaccinate her son? Or has someone elevated Bobby to status as an emissary of God? pat_k Yesterday #12
Their "god" is Donald J. Trump durablend 19 hrs ago #37
She is such a gross POS Scott Alan Swaggerty 19 hrs ago #44
"We're not blaming God for this" Takket Saturday #3
She has some nerve dragging God into what she did Scott Alan Swaggerty 19 hrs ago #45
religious freaks Skittles Saturday #4
Indeed! Scott Alan Swaggerty 19 hrs ago #46
Uneducable moran. SheltieLover Saturday #5
Geez. Figarosmom Saturday #7
Indeed! I am old enough that I had all those serious diseases and measles made me yellowdogintexas Yesterday #15
Darwin in action, sadly..... n/t Coventina Saturday #8
Mom...4th grade drop out, probably pregnant at the time. Enter stage left Yesterday #9
Lock. Her. Up? czarjak Yesterday #10
Yes. Yes. Yes. Scott Alan Swaggerty 19 hrs ago #47
It sounds like the brothers missed getting their boosters. nt Ilsa Yesterday #11
I wonder how people like this even manage to figure out how to breed. cstanleytech Yesterday #13
Unfortunately, the ability to juxtapose genitalia requires no intelligent thought. 3catwoman3 Yesterday #18
It amazes me that these people are all about "God's plan" stumpysbear Yesterday #19
They're the people who would drown in a flood Bettie Yesterday #27
Spot on! Scott Alan Swaggerty 19 hrs ago #48
And yet a parent who left a chemical in a soda bottle would be charged for manslaughter malaise Yesterday #20
She must really hate her son. If she's got other kids, they ought to be taken away. Vinca Yesterday #21
Right? Scott Alan Swaggerty 19 hrs ago #49
Self imposed martyrdom that she had to "sacrifice" her son to glorify god. bluesbassman Yesterday #22
God sent the frickin' vaccine you idiot! maptap22 Yesterday #23
God gave us everything we needed, Norbert Yesterday #24
The mother is most likely vaccinated. Wonder if she blames the vaccine for her own personal stupidity? Buckeyeblue Yesterday #25
These parents are stupid PJMcK Yesterday #26
;-{)...... Goonch Yesterday #28
You're an ahole, lady. God provided the vaccine. You are to blame! Norrrm Yesterday #29
COUGH Next On Fox - Crowdfunding Your Child's Funeral!!! COUGH hatrack Yesterday #30
Prosecute the parents. We are long past the point of where we need to start calling religion the bullshit that it is. LonePirate Yesterday #31
Absolutely! Scott Alan Swaggerty 19 hrs ago #50
If you believe so fervently in your fucking god, why did you even send the child to the hospital? Ferrets are Cool Yesterday #32
Right? Scott Alan Swaggerty 19 hrs ago #42
It has nothing to do with god, it is all on these ignorant jackass parents. They caused this sufferring and to their lostincalifornia Yesterday #33
There is no reasoning with religious certainty. It's a circular argument that will end nowhere. Pisces Yesterday #34
I'm sorry your mother wasn't that stupid when you were born, Kristina! Wonder Why 20 hrs ago #35
That is child endangerment Tree Lady 19 hrs ago #36
She absolutely should be held accountable. Scott Alan Swaggerty 19 hrs ago #41
So she Rebl2 19 hrs ago #38
Exactly what she is doing Scott Alan Swaggerty 19 hrs ago #40
Her God is OK with it, so she is ok with the suffering child. damn!! riversedge 18 hrs ago #54
Absolutely vile Scott Alan Swaggerty 19 hrs ago #39
She's going to stick to that JBTaurus83 18 hrs ago #52
What makes these crazies thing God is against vaccines? awesomerwb1 18 hrs ago #53
Good question..why isnt God, by their way of thinking, also against toothpaste and aspirin? BlueWaveNeverEnd 18 hrs ago #55
You're apparently unaware that doG does, in fact, happen to be against toothpaste! Abolishinist 15 hrs ago #59
thats so crazy. BlueWaveNeverEnd 13 hrs ago #60
If "God" tells Kristina to step in front of a speeding train what's this "good Christian nitwit" gonna do? NoMoreRepugs 18 hrs ago #56
When I say "antivaxxers are moral degenerates" I am talking about people like her. RockRaven 18 hrs ago #57
I call these voters the "religiously insane" for a good reason! And this shows it. CTyankee 16 hrs ago #58

HeartsCanHope

(1,595 posts)
14. I believe this, too.
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 01:22 AM
Yesterday

My mother babysit a little girl whose mother contracted measles while she was carrying her first daughter.

Her daughter was born blind, and was severely handicapped. Because of Julie, my son got every vaccine they offered!

I can't imagine risking the well being of any child, let alone 4 children! How horrible that Ethan has to pay the price

for their recklessness.

wcmagumba

(5,926 posts)
2. The number of idiots in this country always amazes me...the lady will let her kid die because of Gawwwd...
Sat Feb 21, 2026, 11:05 PM
Saturday

pat_k

(12,902 posts)
12. God told her not to vaccinate her son? Or has someone elevated Bobby to status as an emissary of God?
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 01:20 AM
Yesterday

Takket

(23,590 posts)
3. "We're not blaming God for this"
Sat Feb 21, 2026, 11:11 PM
Saturday

Good, as well you shouldn't. No one other than yourselves is responsible for torturing your child.

It really says something about people that they would rather cause their own child horrific pain and suffering, and possibly death, rather than consider the idea that the political tribe they have chosen to join might be incorrect.

Figarosmom

(11,049 posts)
7. Geez.
Sat Feb 21, 2026, 11:32 PM
Saturday

I'd be scared to send my kid to school now days. Some of those vaccines are for very serious diseases.

yellowdogintexas

(23,655 posts)
15. Indeed! I am old enough that I had all those serious diseases and measles made me
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 01:41 AM
Yesterday

extremely ill. I did not have any of the bad side effects but it is the sickest I remember being

Chickenpox, Measles, mumps , rubella. My daughter and her daughter have had all the vaccines (except my daughter did have chickenpox since the vax had not been made available.

3catwoman3

(29,084 posts)
18. Unfortunately, the ability to juxtapose genitalia requires no intelligent thought.
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 06:28 AM
Yesterday

Pretty early in my 45 year career as a peds nurse practitioner, people like this idiot were one of the reasons found myself wishing that becoming a parent required some sort of licensing or screening for basic competence.

stumpysbear

(275 posts)
19. It amazes me that these people are all about "God's plan"
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 06:55 AM
Yesterday

but never for even a split second consider that God’s plan was to bestow on humanity the knowledge and creativity to practice medicine and cure disease. Like it’s God’s gift that little Johnny is a great quarterback due to the Lord’s blessings, but the team of doctors and scientists who made the vaccine that would have prevented this are somehow working against Gods will? People are nuts, man.

Bettie

(19,525 posts)
27. They're the people who would drown in a flood
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 09:16 AM
Yesterday

waiting for "god" to save them after a couple of boats and a helicopter came to evacuate them....old joke, but less funny every year as we see these people navigate the world faithful to nothing but idiocy.

malaise

(294,803 posts)
20. And yet a parent who left a chemical in a soda bottle would be charged for manslaughter
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 07:12 AM
Yesterday

If the child drank it and died.
These are the folks who love Donvict.

bluesbassman

(20,378 posts)
22. Self imposed martyrdom that she had to "sacrifice" her son to glorify god.
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 07:20 AM
Yesterday

Hubris and stupidity are a dangerous combination.

maptap22

(265 posts)
23. God sent the frickin' vaccine you idiot!
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 07:29 AM
Yesterday

God helps those who help themselves...the magic man in the sky sent the scientists who invented the vaccine. Why don't they get it?

Norbert

(7,681 posts)
24. God gave us everything we needed,
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 07:32 AM
Yesterday

a functioning brain and people who have dedicated their lives to become doctors and scientists.

If your functioning brain gets clouded over so much that slick and corrupt politicians make much more sense than doctors & scientists; when you think Dr Fauchi belongs in jail or executed while RFK Jr is a breath of fresh air for our health. If you are willing to offer you child up for the cause, even though it was probably explained what the risks are, then there is very little God can do about this.

I feel horrible for this child. He may never be the same, if the child manages to live through this.

Buckeyeblue

(6,313 posts)
25. The mother is most likely vaccinated. Wonder if she blames the vaccine for her own personal stupidity?
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 08:57 AM
Yesterday

PJMcK

(24,955 posts)
26. These parents are stupid
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 09:09 AM
Yesterday

Blind faith has put their child’s life at risk. Their faith, which has no basis in facts, is mindless , moronic and self-destructive.

The mother is incapable of learning but thinks she understands the universe because of an Iron Age mythology. Pathetic.

Norrrm

(4,588 posts)
29. You're an ahole, lady. God provided the vaccine. You are to blame!
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 09:33 AM
Yesterday

(Reinforcement for comments already made)

LonePirate

(14,356 posts)
31. Prosecute the parents. We are long past the point of where we need to start calling religion the bullshit that it is.
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 09:45 AM
Yesterday

Ferrets are Cool

(22,672 posts)
32. If you believe so fervently in your fucking god, why did you even send the child to the hospital?
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 10:05 AM
Yesterday

Why not just pray that shit away? FUCK these assholes.

lostincalifornia

(5,205 posts)
33. It has nothing to do with god, it is all on these ignorant jackass parents. They caused this sufferring and to their
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 10:13 AM
Yesterday

child.

The measles vaccine is one of the most effective vaccines available.

There is no vaccine for STUPIDITY THOUGH.


Pisces

(6,190 posts)
34. There is no reasoning with religious certainty. It's a circular argument that will end nowhere.
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 10:49 AM
Yesterday

Tree Lady

(13,170 posts)
36. That is child endangerment
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 09:55 PM
19 hrs ago

And parent should be held accountable. When a simple shot could have prevented it that's practically murder because they are saying no matter what they would not do it.

Rebl2

(17,589 posts)
38. So she
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 10:20 PM
19 hrs ago

is okay with making her child suffer through this. Now she may have brain damaged child now that she will have to deal with for years to come.

JBTaurus83

(1,042 posts)
52. She's going to stick to that
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 10:49 PM
18 hrs ago

Because she doesn’t want to admit she possibly could murder her own child.

BlueWaveNeverEnd

(13,664 posts)
55. Good question..why isnt God, by their way of thinking, also against toothpaste and aspirin?
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 11:01 PM
18 hrs ago

Abolishinist

(2,923 posts)
59. You're apparently unaware that doG does, in fact, happen to be against toothpaste!
Mon Feb 23, 2026, 01:59 AM
15 hrs ago

In a preview of his forthcoming immortality cookbook, the bondservant of Christ John warned about the dangers of toothpaste. The man of God said that toothpaste used first thing in the morning right after waking becomes a daily numbing input, targeting the nerve-rich area under the tongue, disrupting body chemistry, dulling spiritual sensitivity, and weakening dream recall.

You see, under your tongue controls your entire system. 100% of your nervous system. The strongest version of your nerves are found underneath your tongue. So you know what you did? You take a chemical and you start it fuels and messes up your entire nervous at your tongue.

Check out this video at 4:28, it will change your morning routine!



NoMoreRepugs

(11,915 posts)
56. If "God" tells Kristina to step in front of a speeding train what's this "good Christian nitwit" gonna do?
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 11:19 PM
18 hrs ago

RockRaven

(19,027 posts)
57. When I say "antivaxxers are moral degenerates" I am talking about people like her.
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 11:22 PM
18 hrs ago

This is some deranged psycho shit that cannot be excused by appeals to tolerance of different religious persuasions. Fuck that.

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