99 Stories of God

52. Doll House

Some parents of children with cognitive disabilities are seeking out cosmetic procedures to make the children appear younger than they are.

Parents who inquire about surgery want either to align the child’s visual appearance with his or her mental capacity or intellectual age, or erase a “delayed” appearance altogether, such as altering the face of a child with Down syndrome.

In one case a few years ago, a child named Ashley, with profound cognitive disabilities, had her sex organs removed and went through other procedures to prevent puberty and growth. Her parents did not wish to institutionalize her but felt they could not care for her at home if she grew to adult size.