MOMania

By GACitizen

January 31, 2009 9:51 AM | Link to this

It is baffling to me why a woman with an already large family would want to undergo fertility treatment, but I think the main issue here is the recklessness of implanting that many embryos with the chance that all of them could survive and create potential major health problems to the fetuses and the mother, not to mention huge medical bills—who pays for the medical bills anyway? I doubt the family paid 100% for the medical bills. The chances of not having health problems with octuplets was tiny, and they beat the odds. It was incredibly fortunate. But risking that much in terms of bad health outcomes for mother and children and potential health costs associated with that is irresponsible and outrageous. There should be a similar law to limit number of embryos implanted based on medical science and chances of survival of the fetuses like they have in some European countries.

By Abel

January 31, 2009 9:51 AM | Link to this

Well, duh. Not only should there be limits on the number of embryo implantations, there should be a limit on the number of offspring one person can have. Birth licenses should be a part of our near future.

By Abel

January 31, 2009 9:52 AM | Link to this

Well, duh. Not only should there be limits on the number of embryo implantations, there should be a limit on the number of offspring one person can have. Birth licenses should be a part of our near future.

By Mary

January 31, 2009 9:55 AM | Link to this

As long as the parent(s) are able to support the kids, how many children they have through infertility treatment is their business. However, there should be a limit on the number of embryos that can be implanted at one time. It is morally grotesque to implant more more embryos that can be safely (for mother and children) be carried to term. Whether you’re pro-life or pro-abortion, there is something terrible about deliberately creating a life in a lab only to kill her because she was one too many in the womb. Also, I wonder about the long-term psychological consequences for reduction survivors.

By chiu

January 31, 2009 9:55 AM | Link to this

Calif. have most generous public support, the more baby you have the more money you’ll from the government. This should be a lesson to other state how to help people really in need.

By Fed up taxpayer

January 31, 2009 9:56 AM | Link to this

The government shouldn’t stick their nose in anyone’s business.But the money taken from me at gunpoint every two weeks by the same government shouldn’t be given to anyone who has babies they can’t pay for.If they can’t pay for the kids,put them with a responsible person who will raise a productive citizen,not another leech and breeder.

By catlady

January 31, 2009 10:00 AM | Link to this

I think the implanting doctors should be financially responsible for implanting more than 3 embryos. These children will cost the taxpayers MILLIONS of dollars due to the irresponsibility of the mother and the implanting doctor. The taxpayers should not be on the hook to provide for these artificial multiple births, which, as you note, have serious health and educational problems.

We have quints at our school who have already cost the taxpayers well over a million for their health care, education, and SSI payments.

In addition, most of the mothers of these children have to be on bed rest for months, sometimes in hospitals. Many draw disability or have Medicaid assistance.

I feel for people affected by infertility. (This woman was obviously not infertile) But they do not, in search of a child, have a right to expect the rest of us to pay for their desire for a child (or for their desire for a different shaped nose, or augmented breasts, or any other elective procedure.)

Even if a person is extremely wealthy (think Kennedy) and can pay for whatever is needed, in the millions of dollars, there is a moral imperative not to inflict disability on her children.

By Grammaw

January 31, 2009 10:02 AM | Link to this

Legally, no one has the right to tell anyone how many kids they can have. Morally, it’s a shame. How does a woman in school support 14 kids? She won’t. WE will. What should be limited is NOT how many kids you can have, but how many kids the state will aid. There should be a cut-off. I think you can have help with the first one, but after that, you are on your own. If you are young enough and healthy enough to have babies, then you are young enough and healthy enough to get out there and WORK to support them. They are not MY responsibility. They are YOURS!

By glenda

January 31, 2009 10:04 AM | Link to this

I think this is insane..no one in their right mind would choose to do this to themselves or those precious babies. Now it will be up to the state to pay those medical bills and keep them up. I firmly believe that reality shows have influenced people to do such things as this. 6 children should be enough to fill those maternal instincts. what would she do without her parents to take care of them?

By Jimbo

January 31, 2009 10:14 AM | Link to this

So, it’s not momania as much as nannymania here. If they can afford it and afford the children it’s none of your damn business. If the doctor has doubts or concerns it’s his business. If he does it against the rules of the board that certifies him it’s their business, but it’s none of YOUR business.

By catlady

January 31, 2009 10:16 AM | Link to this

Teresa, what were you doing up at midnight?

By Dee

January 31, 2009 10:17 AM | Link to this

I think it should be done on a case by case situation. There’s no cut and dry answer.

If a person can afford this themselves - totally - no assistance from the government, hospital, do-gooders giving them free homes, cars, etc. - then maybe.

But I’m curious. I thought I read that this woman is a single mom living with her parents - who just claimed bankruptcy last year! If this is accurate, then the implanting doctor should take all financial responsibility for the birth and upkeep of these children for consenting to do this! Total and complete irresponsibility on the part of the mother and the fertility clinic!

By Theresa

January 31, 2009 10:18 AM | Link to this

I know! Working on my column for tomorrow and saw the big buzz about the ethics online and decided it needed to be done for today. I’m hoping for extra credit points from my bosses!

By catlady

January 31, 2009 10:21 AM | Link to this

Glenda, it isn’t “what would they do without the grandparents”, it’s what WILL they do without the grandparents, who are, most likely going to die before the mother.

And what about the father of all these kids? I think this is a scandal. Sort of like a personal, individual bailout attempt. You cannot imagine how much this woman will be “entitled” to from the public coffers.

By chiu

January 31, 2009 10:31 AM | Link to this

All the children are from the same sperm donor!! That means tax payer is sure to provide for the children. Presitent Obama and House just pass the Stimulus bill in time to help all these babies from vitro fertilization treatment. .

By Mikayla

January 31, 2009 10:32 AM | Link to this

Like some of the posters here, if a person can afford the cost of having a big family then they should have all the kids they want, but it seems like this woman doesn’t have that luxury. She’s in school, lives with her mother and has six kids already below the the age of 7. Now she is bringing 8 newborns into a household with other kids that are just barely able to go to school. Her mother already sees a problem and has warned her that when she gets out of the hospital she will be gone. There doesn’t seem to be a father around to help out. I think her decision in having this many children was very selfish because all she was thinking about in my opinion was herself. I can understand when it’s difficult for a woman to get pregnant or have a doctor tell you that if you want to have kids then feritility treatments will be the way to go. But I know the situation I’m in now, being single, already helping out with a sick relative and not in a serious relationship, that bringing a child into my world is not a good thing at this point.
Just like the other posters, who is going to pay for the wellness of these children, our tax dollars are already being used for bailouts that we can’t even get. Feritlity treatments are not cheap I can imagine but she made a comment to a family friend that she got paid to do this so who is paying her, the doctors or what? Either way, in the end, tax payers money is going to help in raising those kids.

By Tyree

January 31, 2009 10:34 AM | Link to this

Here are some adjectives to describe this woman. Greedy, reckless, selfish, irresponsible,just to start. 14 children? 14 children! Emotionally, will these children not suffer? She can’t address the needs of all of them. I won’t even address the money issue. We all know who’s going to pay that bill.

By catlady

January 31, 2009 10:35 AM | Link to this

Not to mention the “free” stuff people give them. The family in our town with the special needs quints got a house built for them, a van to transport them, food, diapers, etc. They also get governmental aid: various therapy treatments, glasses, all medical care, and disability payments each month. One has his own parapro all day, and will have to have one every year. He is eligible to stay in public school till he is 23. You do the math.

Most of that which anyone does is not anyone else’s business until they expect others to pay for it.

While the 8 babies is unusual, many artificially-caused ubermultiple births happen in the US, and we pick up the tab.

I have enough to do paying for my own family, for my own decisions.

By DB

January 31, 2009 10:36 AM | Link to this

I wonder if she was trying to be the next “John & Kate Plus 8”?

It’s not something that I would do, and the high probability of health issues affecting the development of the fetuses would seem to preclude that many implants.

To me, it seems like the girl was in dire need of psychological counseling, if she already has six children and was that anxious for a huge multiple birth. Isn’t some sort of counseling mandatory before undergoing this kind of procedure? If not, maybe it should be.

By DB

January 31, 2009 10:36 AM | Link to this

I wonder if she was trying to be the next “John & Kate Plus 8”?

It’s not something that I would do, and the high probability of health issues affecting the development of the fetuses would seem to preclude that many implants.

To me, it seems like the girl was in dire need of psychological counseling, if she already has six children and was that anxious for a huge multiple birth. Isn’t some sort of counseling mandatory before undergoing this kind of procedure? If not, maybe it should be.

By new mom

January 31, 2009 10:39 AM | Link to this

Speaking as someone who has undergone fertility treatments, it is shocking that a “doctor” would implant that many embryos at one time.

I don’t think most people understand the various procedures, and how the risks of multiples varies from one procedure to another. Most large births result from IUI, where there is no actual implantation of embryos, but help in ovulating and insemination. The chances of multiples are there, but still infinitesimal. And for us, our three rounds of IUI did not produce a baby.

When we met for our IVF consultation, our doctor explained that if we had two viable embryos, he would implant both. If we had three, he would implant all three. Still, the chances were that MAYBE one of them would survive. However, if we had four or more, he would only implant two and freeze the others for future procedures. I cannot imagine a legitimate doctor choosing to implant so many, knowing the risks.

As far as the financial side goes, we paid for our procedures ourselves and were prepared financially for the outcome. And catlady, I know you say you ‘feel for people affected by infertility’, but your comparing fertility treatments to plastic surgery made me sick to my stomach. And I am not easily offended…

By Ayn Rand was Right

January 31, 2009 10:46 AM | Link to this

NO, the government should not tell anyone how many children they should be allowed to have. Neither should they force responsible people to support lifestyle choices. The children are innocent victims here, the mother needs to be committed. I am not sure about selfish and greedy, but she is seriously in need of mental health care, and the children are most likely in danger under her care.

For those mulling God’s opinion about aborting these test tube babies…God saw fit to make this woman infertile. Man saw fit to work around God’s plan 14 times…way to screw things up in a Super Sized manner! If you believe abortion is wrong because it is God’s plan, then you must believe fertility clinics and their work is also wrong.

By godoggo

January 31, 2009 10:58 AM | Link to this

Reckless, irresponsible, ignorant, small country, uneducated, sot, leech, buffoon, selfish, nit-wit, sorry, calculating, destructive, hysterectomy , tubal ligation, frontal lobotomy …..i just cannot come of with enough words to describe this consciousless individual. …..PLEASE STOP BREEDING !….These are the humans that need to stop breeding. ….and STOP moving our country into deeper debt !

—

By todd

January 31, 2009 11:16 AM | Link to this

Sorry but this woman is scum. She has burdenned everyone from the 14 that she downloaded to the other 300 million that will support her pack. She should be sent to prison along with the irresponsible doctors that let this happen!!

By catlady

January 31, 2009 11:16 AM | Link to this

new mom, I didn’t mean to make you sick. But an optional medical procedure is still OPTIONAL. Not life saving. Lots of things are desirable but not necessary to sustain life. If you can afford ALL the costs, that is great, go for it. All the costs, short and long-term.

Glad you could afford your procedure, and that it turned out well. Sounds like you had a sensible, ethical doctor. Two of my daughters’ friends have also done that. They both had to take out enormous loans from their parents to do it, but that is their business. However, if their children have been born with serious disabilities there would have been much reliance on the public for medical care, etc. Both had state employees’ insurance, but you can bust the barrier on that pretty quickly, if, for example, babies have to be in the hospital for a month or more.

This uber pregnancy seems to have little in common with your experience.

Again, congratulations on your happy event!

By Salamander

January 31, 2009 11:19 AM | Link to this

The following quote came from the doctor at the fertility clinic:

“But Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg, who has fertility clinics in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York, countered: ‘Who am I to say that six is the limit? There are people who like to have big families.’ ”

Insane. How can this kind of reckless behavior even be legal? We have a global over-population problem, and garbage like this stands as testament to the weakness of humans to breed in order to make themselves feel better.

I wonder if the woman was a Christian? I’d put $50 on it.

By Tiffany

January 31, 2009 11:28 AM | Link to this

If you read the news article…the mother of the 8 babies and six older siblings most definitely has some kind of psychological issue with having as many children as possible. Her case is somewhat different than a childless couple who goes for fertility treatments. Maybe her doctor missed the boat on this one. I agree that this woman is sadly probably going to rely on government help, unless they offer her a tv show or something. These multiple births must be looked at by the individual situation. Anyone who has ever been to a fertility clinic knows about the ethical delimma involving selective reduction. I don’t think the government should be allowed to force parents into making certain choices. Making counseling available beforehand would be a good idea to let parents know what they are getting into. This woman has bigger issues than all of that however. The grandma has said that she is moving out of the family home and turning her back on the situation. Wonder who on earth is going to help this woman out? Even if she can financially support them…who will help her feed and change all of those babies while also caring for the older siblings? I wish this family the best of luck…they are going to need it!

By Mary Ellen

January 31, 2009 11:30 AM | Link to this

This will probably inspire nastygrams, but here goes, anyway. Our Holy Father, Paul VI, wrote a beautiful encyclical called Humanae Vitae, and it is available to read on the EWTN web site documents library, for the curious. Unfortunately, his great wisdom was roundly ignored, even in many Catholic circles. He predicted the dire emotional and ethical consequences of tinkering with natural conception. As bad as this situation is, it is the logical outcome of years of prior bad decisions, bad public policy and horrendous unintended consequences. God bless that poor woman and those children and the entire family. I sincerely hope her counseling professors get through to her. This is a sad situation, all the way around.

By karen

January 31, 2009 11:30 AM | Link to this

I read that she is student (or was until last year). Her dad is from Iraq, and her mother said in an interview that the daughter “was obsessed” as a teenager to have alot of kids. What I would like to know is who paid for the 46 (yes 46) doctors and nurses who attended the birth and are caring for the infants. I am sure no health insurance (IF she had health insurance) could cover those costs. How did Kaiser let her into the hospital ? She was three months pregnant when she went there? But if an ill person does not have medical insurance they are denied treatment. Does anyone remember the homeless person thrown onto the street in California because she could not pay her medical bill? My son now lives in California and it makes my blood boil to know his tax dollars will go to to help this irresponsible woman’s “Little Miracles”…just disgusting.

By HB

January 31, 2009 11:33 AM | Link to this

It’s my understanding that often the reason so many embryos are implanted is that the procedure is so expensive, making people desparate to raise their odds of success and hopeful for twins or triplets since it may be their one and only shot. So here’s my plan:

1) No more than 2-3 embryos can be implanted — EVER. 2) Medical insurance should cover a certain number of procedures (say 5? and then assume it will just not work for that particular mom? I don’t know what number is reasonable — I’m not a doctor) resulting in no more than 2 children. 3) Beyond two children or the limited number of procedures, the patient must pay for treatment with the same limit of 2-3 embryos implanted at once. 4) For procedures not covered by insurance, number of children the patient already has should not matter — to each her own. However, prevention of high order multiples with the 2-3 implantation limit is a “personal choice” I’m ok with stepping on because of health risks to mom, babies, and potential costs to society due to special needs.

So there you have it. A plan that hopefully will make things a little easier for parents by not forcing them to put all their eggs in one basket, so to speak, and hopefully prevent these high-risk, multiple births.

By catlady

January 31, 2009 11:38 AM | Link to this

Like I say, if the doctor is on the hook financially for the expense of these superpregnancies, we would see precious fewer of them. The doctor Steinberg would be a little less laissez faire about assisting in such conceptions. There a lots of things I’d “like” but I have to consider the implications of giving in to my desires. He should get a clue.

It sounds like the mom in this case is in need of more than counseling. She tried to go bankrupt—not a good omen for someone who has many children to raise. She was unable to do what she was supposed to do. She probably plans to live off disability/welfare payments, since there is no way she can pay a sitter and continue working/going to school. I would think a mental health committment and sterilization (reversible) would be in order. The children and public need to be protected.

By HB

January 31, 2009 11:38 AM | Link to this

Oh and by the way, making implantation affordable can also prevent high order multiples by reducing use of fertility drugs for non in-vitro babies. With those, you don’t know how many embryos there are until you’re already pregnant.

By new mom

January 31, 2009 11:41 AM | Link to this

Catlady, it’s OK. I understand what you were trying to say, and I do understand the difference between life-saving and non-life-saving surgeries. Yes, our treatments were ‘optional’. I think it was having what we went through (which I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy) lumped in with plastic surgery—it just got to me. It’s not as though I wanted bigger boobs or a perky little nose, we were trying to have a baby.

And for those who don’t post here regularly and know my story—our little one happened after our IUIs failed, and before we had to go forward with IVF. After the doctors told us it would NEVER happen unless we had in-vitro.

And we are pregnant again, without any treatments. We had decided that our girl would be our only, unless we could get pregnant without going back for any more treatments. Unless you have walked that path, you have no idea of the financial, physical, or emotional toll it takes on you.

By catlady

January 31, 2009 11:46 AM | Link to this

One other thing—did I read one of her first six is autistic? That does not bode well. Most folks with an autistic child will tell you that raising and caring for an autistic child takes a great deal of investment (time, etc) by the parent. There is no way this mama can now commit herself, even before the other babies.

Also did I read she “wanted to have a girl?” THIS is a reason to roll the dice with 8 babies??

WHO ENABLED THIS TO HAPPEN?

By Ayn Rand was Right

January 31, 2009 11:55 AM | Link to this

HB - no one but the person choosing the lifestyle should be responsible for paying for it. I would vehemently oppose tax dollars paying for fertility treatments of any type. Having children is a lifestyle choice. I would really like to have a lifestyle of the rich and famous…any plan on how the government can work that out for me?

See how this gets out of control quickly?

By new mom

January 31, 2009 11:56 AM | Link to this

HB—you mean there are some people whose insurance covers fertility treatments?? We have really good insurance through my husband’s employer (not the state!) and we had to pay every penny out of our pockets. I didn’t know there were insurance companies who did cover this!

Also, I don’t know how it’s possible to make IVF as inexpensive as IUI. They are so different, and require such different procedures, personel, etc, and IUIs are much less invasive.

By Tiffany

January 31, 2009 11:57 AM | Link to this

Salamander: WHAT does being a Christian have to do with any of this?I find that remark offensive.

By catlady

January 31, 2009 12:01 PM | Link to this

Again, best wishes, newmom. Hope all your problems are “little” ones.

By Tiffany

January 31, 2009 12:20 PM | Link to this

From what I have heard insurance does not usually cover things like this. I have not heard how this mom paid these expenses.

By new mom

January 31, 2009 12:20 PM | Link to this

Thanks catlady, that is sweet :)

My ‘problem’ right now is trying to get anything done without being sick! It’s a small price to pay…so I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining, but I don’t know who named it morning sickness. For me, it’s all-day sickness. :)

By HB

January 31, 2009 12:23 PM | Link to this

No, new mom, I’m proposing that medical insurance SHOULD cover fertility treatment, including IVF with limited number of embryos implanted. Many countries in Europe do this under government healthcare with a limit of 1 embryo. I think our non-government system could come up with something too.

And I never suggested tax dollars go for fertility treatment, Ayn. The fact is, though, tax dollars do go in after the fact, as catlady pointed out, since special needs multiples likely will need special programs at school, often end up on medicaid, etc. If insurance could help set up a way to make IVF with limited embryos affordable for parents, then a lot of costs could be saved down the line.

And yeah, chldren, may be a “lifestyle choice,” but as a society, we do need them. Population is declining in developed countries. In the U.S., it has flat-lined, only because of immigration, otherwise, it would be dropping. This can cause big economic problems down the road. Making it a little easier for middle class families to have 2 or 3 kids that likely will go to college, have good careers, and drive our economy forward in the next generation is a good thing. Having kids is not the equivalent desire of being “rich and famous.” Kids are a contribution to our society as a whole, not merely a luxury.

By Tiffany

January 31, 2009 12:32 PM | Link to this

New mom: Have you tried eating saltine crackers throughout the day? I, too had the all day sickness with my babies. If you can keep a little something in your stomach the whole day…it helps. For some reason the saltines work good for this. I know- it is hard to eat anything at all sometimes. Good luck!

By catlady

January 31, 2009 12:41 PM | Link to this

I know state employees’ insurance does not cover fertility treatments. The young women I know had to pony up the $30,000 themselves, with no guarantees for any success. Fortunately they both have lovely twins.

newmom, you never know about those doctors’ pronouncements. I was told I would probably not ever have kids due to 2 different problems but I got pregnant quite easily when I wanted to (4 years and 5 years apart). I know too many women who have been told they cannot conceive and then it happened anyway. Only the Lord knows all.

My (perhaps) extreme thinking on the subject comes from 3 things: I am a teacher. Have been for 3 1/2 decades. Have seen a lot of unwanted, uncared-for kids. Lots of neglected kids. Some abused kids. Lots of sp ed kids. I am currently working part of the day with four (4!) autistic/ADHD kids. I have a permanent headache and knot in my neck. Second reason: I see a third of my paycheck GONE before it is given to me. Third reason: my family always stressed taking responsibility for your actions. So when we see folks doing what they want with no real chance of success, no accountability, and the attitude of what they want means we pay for it, well, I have a real problem with that. Especially because of no 2 above.

I was in grad school for 7 years as a single parent. No child support—father said he could not afford the total of $60 per week. I took out the max loans which I will pay for the rest of my life. My decision. I took no welfare, no food stamps, no subsidized housing. Because it was MY CHOICe to go back to school rather than continue working full time (I had graduate assistantships) and did about everything except selling drugs and prostitution to keep my family together. It would not be right to expect the government to support a choice I made.

All any of us ask is that everyone be accountable for THEIR decisions, I think.

God help those 14 children. They don’t have much of a chance relying on their mother.

By Donna P.

January 31, 2009 12:45 PM | Link to this

I don’t care if a woman wants to be implanted with as many embryos as she wants just as long as we, the American citizens, don’t have to pay for her children through Welfare et al benefits.

By jesuschristsuperstar

January 31, 2009 12:51 PM | Link to this

Why are we having this debate?

Our kids are fat and unhealthy, we’re all on 25 thousand drugs, and we have no social support system for families of any size in need (remember the people in Nebraska abandoning their kids? Small families and large were overwhelmed by various circumstances and felt they had nowhere else to turn).

Childcare is too expensive, we have very minimal protections for parents who take time off of their jobs to have a baby (see the rest of the industrialized world for comparison), we have no health insurance for 11 million kids because it’s more important that the health care CEOs, shareholders and hospital stakeholders get their due first. Millions of kids go hungry every night. Our kids don’t learn jack crap in school and 1 out of 4 drop out before graduation. Then if they are lucky and manage to get their GED, the only place to get a job is the army where they’ll get sent to iraq or afghanistan or whatever the flavor of the month is so they can be blown up by some guy who thinks that he’s going to go to heaven to screw a bunch of virgins.

And with the recession, these problems are about to get a whole lot worse.

So before we start debating how this family is going to drain society with this ethically-questionable procedure, maybe we should consider how freaking toxic this united states of america has become to raise children. In all seriousness, the debate should be on whether to have ANY children at ALL.

By Tyree

January 31, 2009 12:55 PM | Link to this

Well spken Catlady. This young woman can’t control her own life. These 14 children are victims. Because the blatant actions of their mother they will suffer. First, by lack of resources(emotional and monetary) from the mother. Secondly, society will more than likely greet them with scorn.Considering the are nothing more than intentional financial welfare chidren of the state.

By catlady

January 31, 2009 12:56 PM | Link to this

But Donna, you WILL have to pay for those “as many as she wants” embryos, in terms of educational costs, if not sp ed, medicaid, free lunch, monthly payments to parents of disabled kids, etc. And you know with 14 kids this mama, alone, won’t avoid welfare. Since she and Daddy aren’t married, do you think he will step up to the plate now that he is father to 14? If Mama dies before they get to 18 years old, add SS payments for the kids. That family alone will cost MILLIONS of dollars of taxpayer money, unless she is from a Kennedy/Rockerfeller kind of family.

Not to mention moral issues.

By new mom

January 31, 2009 12:59 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the suggestion Tiffany! Right now, wheat thins are my food of choice, but I might try the saltines too. I do try to keep food on my stomach all day. It’s a weird feeling to be both hungry/starving AND nauseas at the very same time! fun…

That is an interesting idea, to have insurance cover IVF. Like I said earlier, our doctor (like any reasonable doctor) would only do 2-3 embryos max. I can imagine it would be a tough proposition to convince an insurance company to cover a 16k procedure (IVF) when they don’t cover a 4-5k one (IUI). Even with all the benefits…

Oh my—I just read an updated article which said that the mother answered, in response to ‘how could she afford the in vitro?’, “she got paid for it!” Now I know there are studies done all the time which participants can get free IVF if they qualify, but what doctor would PAY a single woman with that many children already to have it done again? With eight embryos?? What was the study’s point, to see how many children they could get one woman to have?
Sounds like the mother needed counseling and therapy instead of more children. How irresponsible! Instead of those poor children being wards of the state, they should become wards of that fertility clinic.

By momtoivftwins

January 31, 2009 1:06 PM | Link to this

There’s so many things to comment on this but first.. the ivf dr was absolutely irresponsible to implant that many embryos. I do not call a woman who has 6 children infertile. Maybe for the first 3.. I’ll give her that. She needs help getting pg but 8more??? I had twins and know how hard it was with just two in the beginning. There is absolutely NO WAY she can do this by herself. I hope for the sake of the children the community helps her out like you sometimes here about with higher order multiples. Its just my opinion but I think she is absolutely nuts or she will be when its all said and done. I hope none of these kids end up abused or neglected. There is only so much one person can do and eight infants and 6 more children is too much for one person.I wish her luck. I really do.

By Dondee

January 31, 2009 1:21 PM | Link to this

So much irresponsibility to go around here, especially the doctor. This mom doesn’t not sound like she is on the same plane as Jon and Kate or the Duggars, as both of these families have found a way to care for their very large families. The mom is not married? The “father” is the same sperm donor? Wow…..While I agree who is the doctor to say how many children a woman can have, I think he should have recognized that this woman was/is putting her children at risk and quite likely is not able to raise them without government assistance. I guess 44 will take care of her now. Blah.

By Shannon

January 31, 2009 1:45 PM | Link to this

This woman seems to be an extreme case of seeking attention and using children to get it. A psychological evaluation should definitely be part of the process.

I agree with Ayn Rand was Right - having children is a lifestyle choice. People with kids get tax advantages that those without kids don’t (the $3400 tax deduction, the $1000 credit, etc.). I think there should be a limit to the number of kids someone can claim on their taxes (like 2). I would love to get a deduction for NOT having kids!

By catlady

January 31, 2009 1:54 PM | Link to this

Is this kind of like Muchausen by Proxy? She gets attention by having kids? Or is she (what do they call the crazy cat ladies) a hoarder? Or those who claim to be sick to get attention and money? I have always thought that family of 20 out in Arkansas should not be touted in the press so much (Bay number 18! Baby number 19! Baby number 20!)

By Sam

January 31, 2009 2:05 PM | Link to this

Once again, we the taxpayer end up paying for the someone else’s actions. Personal accountability is none. Who pays? Us the taxpayer.

By DJ

January 31, 2009 2:09 PM | Link to this

Stupid people shouldn’t be allowed to breed. Period. The rest of us should only be able to have as many kids as we can realistically afford. If you are on the public dole, you should be on forced injectible contraceptives.

By DJ

January 31, 2009 2:13 PM | Link to this

So if the lady can afford it (and can take care of the kids), it’s none of my business.

By catlady

January 31, 2009 2:29 PM | Link to this

DJ, you are still on the hook, whether she can “afford” it and “take care of” her kids, right now, for their education, including quite likely sp ed till they are 23, perhaps with their own, individual para pro. Not to mention disability payments. Plus their health care unless an unemployed “student” has real good insurance that covers them, with unlimited lifetime maximum.

NO ONE can “take care of” 14 kids, some with handicaps. Not financially, not emotionally, not physically.

Even if you are Steve Jobs, you can’t do it. Not to mention a bankrupt thirty something unwed mother of 14.

It IS your business.

By Shannon

January 31, 2009 2:32 PM | Link to this

The more kids people have the more that has to be paid to build schools, roads and provide health care. It is everyone’s business because it raises the costs for all of us.

By SouthernGal

January 31, 2009 3:08 PM | Link to this

All 14 were conceived by in vitro…she is 33 never married. He oldest child is 7.

This woman is mentally deranged.

By Ted

January 31, 2009 3:58 PM | Link to this

It’s not fair to the rest of society to put your own selfish agenda above all else. This woman made her mind up, consequences be damned. She should be ashamed. The local community should treat here accordingly.Treat as an outcast, and let fin for herself and chidren without any goverment suppliment. Of course, society won’t and we will end up paying for her choices in life. I do hate the circumstances for the children.

By HELLO???

January 31, 2009 4:02 PM | Link to this

The issue is NOT about the government saying how many kids you can/should have… if this woman wanted to have IVF 20 times, go ahead. The issue is how many embryos were implanted during this SINGLE procedure. I guarantee if this woman had died during the birth, all you “supporters” would be outraged at the fertility doctor for putting her at such a risk in the first place.

By AL

January 31, 2009 4:21 PM | Link to this

I agree with 3 embryo limit. Implanting 8 is an outrage.

By catlady

January 31, 2009 4:34 PM | Link to this

Someone help me: so she has ben IVd 5 times??? one or two sets twins, one set octos, and 3 singular births? How on earth did she afford that? Maybe she has a group rate with the dr?

By barney frank

January 31, 2009 4:39 PM | Link to this

More votes for us dems - more tax money from the 50% who pay income tax. Is this a great country or what? Barney the bank queen!!

By Robin Hagin

January 31, 2009 4:58 PM | Link to this

She’s unmarried, has mental problems.Her uterus needs to be ripped out.The doctor that did this should lose his license and be forced to help pay to raise these kids.

By catlady

January 31, 2009 5:21 PM | Link to this

What is sad is the young couples who believe they cannot have a baby because they cannot afford it due to the high taxes they pay so people like this can have as many kids as they want and get help from the taxpayers to gestate and raise their large families.

The responsible folks limit their childbearing, generally, but it is the irresponsible who cannot afford the raising of their kids who seem to usually have the large families.

By mystery poster

January 31, 2009 5:25 PM | Link to this

Borrowed from another blog on the subject:

Vagina… It’s not a clown car.

By Gr

January 31, 2009 5:38 PM | Link to this

Very irresponsible fertility doctor.

By catlady

January 31, 2009 7:11 PM | Link to this

I feel for Grandma who has probably been taking care of the 6 initial children since Mama has been on bedrest for months.

I am guessing she will qualify for all kinds of governmental aid while she “gets back on her feet.” And if any of the kids have health problems (they will) she will probably get nursing care, respite care, and home cleaning care, sponsored by you and me.

No wonder she said she is getting “paid” to have the children.

By rick

January 31, 2009 7:29 PM | Link to this

this disgusting piece of garbage along with her very pleased doctor Frankensteins should be boiled by the irate villagers. Just say no to medical monsters and and expense and horror too much for our country to bear.

By john

January 31, 2009 7:31 PM | Link to this

The doctor that implanted 8 embryos in this woman should be forced to pay child support for these kids until they are 18. This woman must have some kind of mental disorder. The doctor on the other hand should have his license suspended.

By No Name

January 31, 2009 7:32 PM | Link to this

If you need fertility treatment, that is God’s way of saying “no kids for you”. But then again, I wear glasses, so God wanted me gone long ago.

By karma'sbreathstinksandwontleavewhenyoulookatyourwatchandyawn

January 31, 2009 7:33 PM | Link to this

OK, let me get this straight…

A minister’s daughter in Pennsylvania, herself a registered nurse and a self proclaimed God squad member, married an IT guy who was the son of a local dentist. Sounds like a stable, successful union of 2 hard working, over achievers destined to carve out their piece of the American pie, right?

Well, after a few months of middle class bliss, and a shady diagnosis, the couple decided to skip the whole “God’s will” thing and get themselves some fertility treatments.

The result; twin girls.

A few months go by and again, to hell with “wait’n for God’s plan”, “he has a plan for us, ya know”, we want us some more babies. “More expensive, dangerous fertility treatments please.” (think Ovaltine commercial)

Bada bing, 6 kids, all preemies, major headlines!

I live in Atlanta and I remember the story. Almost from the second the placentas hit the floor, the Mom was asking for….stuff.

It started with ice in those little hospital cups, an extra towel, can I take home the robe? I need car seats, I don’t have enough bibs. Get me some slippers!

The adorable Pennsylvania hamlet, the beaming Grandfather’s congregation and the entire state rallied behind the young couple and saw to it that babies were fed, laundry was done, floors were vacuumed and bills were paid.

(Bills paid? hey wait, we might be onto something here, baby daddy! get in here!)

Tons of diapers, donated. Groceries measured by truckloads, donated. Clothing, donated.

State medicaid paid for a home nurse for a year. Pennsylvania set up college funds and the Governor himself took the time to task his subjects; give and give often, let it be decreed!

Now, we’re all good up to this point, I can even get over the whole “skip God’s will and pump me full of chemistry thing”. Those babies were awful cute! and hey, at least the young couple were happy and appreciative of the sacrifices and love offerings, right?……..screeeeech

No, the nurse should stay longer than a year, like forever. The tuition’s should be comp’d, the renovation of the tidied home was horrendously horrific. The house was too small anyway, and we need a van! Family members were cast aside for failing to “understand” the needs of this, now famous, clan of 10.

(famous?, hey wait a minute)

The IT guy, well about this time he got fired, so I guess the former IT guy, set up a family website. Adorable pictures of the babies, favorite scriptures and oh yea, this is what we need; cash, and wal-mart/target gift cards, you know for our basic needs (go back up and read about the part where I talked about the stuff they got).

(hey, don’t forget about the damn van!)

Sure would make a neat story, you know one of those documentaries; Babies screaming, want’n stuff, throwing tantrums. Strangers handing them toys. I said BABIES doing that, get up and comb your hair!

Anyway, Discovery sends a crew up there and does a one-off, peak into a day or two of the harried life of, well, by now a pretty comfortable unemployed baby momma and her awkward, frightened son/husband.

(OMG, look at the hits on our site, did you check the mail today? my God is an awesome God!)

IT guy got a new job with the state! amazing!

Of course we’ll do more shows, in fact we’ll move into a bigger house. In fact in the new house we’ll let you put in permanent lighting fixtures so you can film…alot.

(Ted Danson got how much?)

Trips, vehicles, plastic surgeries, dental procedures, free food, volunteers, more trips, more clothes.

But at least the lady is happy, appreciative and treats her family and the volunteers with respect…..screeeeech

Snarking, sniping, yelling, hitting, correcting, degrading, bemoaning.

I work the hardest, I’m the smartest, I’m in control. organic only. I do lists!

(lets see.. I should have a human element to be relatable, I know, I’ll have OCD, yea, a clean freak! that’s a totally cool malady)

OK, after 4 years, the website keeps asking for stuff, the Ted Danson money is getting closer, corporate sponsors; kmart, juicy juice, tide, etc… ready to cash in on the whole, “mombie/ OCD” thing, line up and the ladies hair gets oddly striped?

(but wait, we cant keep asking for wal-mart cards, kmart will be p**. I know, lets do the whole Tammy Faye church thing, they’ll totally pay us! just ixnay on the whole fertility thing, we still need a van!)

The website wish list gives way to speaking engagement lists. (hey, leave the link there, just in case we have a repeat giver) A speaking fee, a love offering or 2 and for $20.00 (cash!) you can take a picture with the IT guy.

Well, ok, now the Christian element would surely ground the dysfunctional duo, right?…..screeech!

(honey, I don’t think I want that job anymore, can I stay home, I’ll bring in your coffee, 8ish?)

Hair plugs, tummy tucks, spa days, more trips, more……stuff

(hey, you think that rich lady will write a book for me, I’ll be her friend!)

So, after book deals, Danson-like TLC money, speaking fees, appearance fees, mulitple bles$ings, yada freakin yada….

(this house is too small and the neighbor looked at me today, society must do something about this!)

1.1 million, 1.3 million, does it matter? The unemployed (our show is our life our life is our show), surgically altered couple move up to the east side, a deeluxe mansion in the skyyye.

So, on a day when 71,000 Americans lost jobs, what does TLC air? 30 minutes of this ungrateful, spiteful woman pretending to clean a built-in double refrigerator while her 4 year olds randomly poop and ask for help wiping. The former IT guy mumbles past on his way to his “outbuildings”, apparently searching for his spine.

(he cant keep up with anything) she say’s as she stares at him through the albino zebra, striped bangs.

Well?, do I have the gest of it? I’ve only seen one epi$ode.

By my_word

January 31, 2009 9:05 PM | Link to this

Stupid people should be spayed or neutered. Thank God she is not in Georgia, we have enough scum taking advantage of public assistance.

By BA

January 31, 2009 9:11 PM | Link to this

Children Services needs to swoop in (usually they don’t when they should, and do when they shouldn’t) and put all eight up for adoption in loving, caring, and able homes.

By Couvade

January 31, 2009 9:35 PM | Link to this

Compassion.

By WhyMyTaxes

January 31, 2009 10:49 PM | Link to this

Lets see, free school, free medical care, tax subsidies, welfare checks, social security checks (you know many of them will likely be disabled) and everyone is surprised that she did it??

Nobody pays their own way for their kids anymore except the rich and they certainly take the tax credit.

Why is anyone surprised?

Fertility procedures are about as unnatural as you can possibly get. Nobody wants to talk about aborting the “extras” but it is ok for them to die if they don’t implant or to kill the leftovers in the petri dish. The argument is about as hipocritical as it can get.

I dont care how many kids anyone wants to have, but the minute you force society to pick up ANY part of the tab then you are forcing me to pay for their choice and that is MORALLY WRONG.

End the freebies and make every parent actually have to pay for EVERY expense of their children and then lets see just how many kids come into this world. There might actually be some thinking going on before the pants come off for a change. And maybe dad might be forced to stick around too.

Personally I think this is all about getting a reality show or maybe a shot at their own “puppy bowl” on animal planet.

By Terry

January 31, 2009 10:59 PM | Link to this

First, anyone on public assistance of any kind should not be allowed to go to a fertility clinic.In fact, a limit should be placed on the amount of additional public assistance provided. For instance, no more than 2 children, then you take care of the rest.

If the person can afford to have their children and wants them, then have at it.

However, if 8 embryos were implanted in this woman, the doctor doing the planting should have to bear the expense.

By GaLiberal

January 31, 2009 11:42 PM | Link to this

By Terry First, anyone on public assistance of any kind should not be allowed to go to a fertility clinic.In fact, a limit should be placed on the amount of additional public assistance provided. For instance, no more than 2 children, then you take care of the rest.

Yea, and while your at it, just make sure people with genetic defects are barred from reproducing because they burden society with excess medical costs. Or people with low intelligence (that would eliminate the Rethuglicon party). Or ugly people. I think you get the picture. What you are adovcating is nothing short of eugenics or genetic engineering.

Clearly, this woman has a mental problem and should have been screened before having fertility treatements.

By nurse&mother

February 1, 2009 12:47 AM | Link to this

OMG Karma…. How freakin’ funny you are! I nearly laughted my a$$ off. You nailed that on the head. I just wonder why people can’t figure out Jon and Kate plus 8.

Don’t even get me started on this mother with 8 newborns. If you have 6 children already under the age of 7—You are not infertile. Repeat, you are not infertile. Listen to the Labor and Delivery nurse when I say this.

There ought to be a law against the government paying for anyone to have more than 2 children. Period (and that is being generous!!) If you can’t afford children, that is not everyone else’s problem to have to pay the bill.

By dixiewife44

February 1, 2009 6:12 AM | Link to this

Sounds like this woman’s obsession borders along the line of some mental disability. ie. hording cats, dogs in ones home, shes hording children. Something has to be done, like sterilizing this person and getting her some serious therapy. Not only is all these kids going to be a tremendous stress to raise for her, but grandma as well. Its one thing to have a few kids, its another to be “obsessed” or in my opinioin “whacked out in the head”, and have so many. I guess as long as she’s with mama, she thinks mama will help bear the emotional and financial load. Mama needs to put her on the street.

By motherjanegoose

February 1, 2009 8:21 AM | Link to this

Hi all…I did not know we could post on Sunday…is this new? I got in late last night and have not checked in. I will be brief:

ANYONE WHO SAYS THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE AS MANY KIDS AS THEY WANT IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT…

has their head in in the clouds. No one knows what the future holds and how expensive kids can get…sheesh. We have two and that can get expensive! Just getting bookbags and school supplies will be $1000 for these kids!

I cannot fathom a couple taking care of emotional needs of that many children much less financial and JUST A MOTHER….hello?

This is beyond sad, it is pathetic.

By motherjanegoose

February 1, 2009 8:49 AM | Link to this

ooops…meant to say… you should have as many kids as YOU want…sorry

By Brian Neumann

February 1, 2009 9:25 AM | Link to this

My comment has a lot of truth to it, but will undoubtedly be unexpected by ajc.com readers and the staff of ajc.com. There absolutely should be legal limitations on the number of embryos that can be implanted at once to protect the babies and the mother. Also, who is paying for the healthcare of the mother and her children? It trickles down to her husband’s employer and the taxpayers. Being a homosexual single male, I am so tired of subsidizing the welfare of heterosexual couples and their children. I am subsidizing their usage of public services and healthcare through paying income taxes and through paying health insurance. I want to see the tax deductions for married couples and families completed eliminated at a state and federal level. Case in point: Why should I (who has no spouse or children) subsidize the healthcare, education, and general welfare of a family of fourteen?

By todd

February 1, 2009 9:42 AM | Link to this

Hey, look at the brightside…14 more votes for the Democratic party!

By Ayn Rand was Right

February 1, 2009 10:25 AM | Link to this

GaLiberal - are you suggesting that we the taxpayers should be responsible for paying to support people so that they can afford to choose to go to fertility clinics to reproduce more citizens we must support?

Please explain who’s choice matters most, those that can afford their choices, or the underserved?

By dave

February 1, 2009 10:49 AM | Link to this

Besides the obvious nature of how very “wrong” this whole episode is… there remains another fact that I’ve yet to see mentioned.

All fertility treatments should be closed down until every single child that NEEDS a home out there HAS a home. It is often those that scream the loudest about their views against abortion that would never take in a child that needs a home. It’s a fact that more liberals adopt then do “Talibangelicals” out there.

ban ALL fertility treatments unti every child “born” and “waiting” has a home.

By A

February 1, 2009 11:02 AM | Link to this

Adopt or foster the children that are already born before bringing more in the world. This CA woman is nuts!! Single parent, one of the 6 is autistic, now 8 more preemies that are sure to have medical problems down the road? Somebody at that fertility clinic needs to be fired and psychologically evaluated along with the mother.

By Jan

February 1, 2009 11:13 AM | Link to this

This woman has some serious mental issues and the doctors at the fertility clinic should have recognized them.

By catlady

February 1, 2009 11:15 AM | Link to this

I hope the implanting dr will be hauled in front of the state medical board and stripped of his license to practice medicine. It seems what he did was “reckless endangerment” toward the life of the mother. Perhaps some jail time would be helpful in discouraging other doctors from such egregious behavior.

If the mother had been implanted before, that information would also be available to the doctor, who would then have an ethical duty to refuse to perform such a procedure until after a mental health evaluation took place, like is expected for people who request repeated plastic surgeries.

IF this woman is being sponsored by some sort of TV show or other entity, they ought to also face severe financial penalties and perhaps prosecution for aiding the endangerment.

I hope we hear NO MORE about this woman. Let her live her life in silence, away from the spotlight, “taking care of” her children. Perhaps she feeds on this kind of attention. And good luck to the taxpayers for what she has put us on the hook for. Does any state have a cap on payments for this kind of thing—for medicaid, welfare, food stamps, SCHIP, disability, SSI, etc? I know the schools will have to provide for these children, with no limit to the expenses, and the expenses will be astronomical.

I just checked and there IS a TV show about the freakish, money-grubbing couple described above. TLC should be taken off the air for glorifying such a rip off use of resources, including taxpayer monies!

When do we learn not to reward people who do the wrong thing?

By KK

February 1, 2009 11:26 AM | Link to this

I work with 7 Autistic Adults ages 23-41 in a Day Program. These people have no quality of life. It’s very sad. Out of all 7 of them only 1 still lives at home with their parents. The other 6 were given away at a young age. There is no doubt if this woman has 1 Autistic child at home, that one or more of the newborns will be Autistic, Mentally Retarted, blind….the list goes on. We the taxpayers WILL be paying for the care of these kids until the day they die. The people I care for get a check each month for $600 or more and are on atleast 10 meds a day (which are free) and this will continue until the day they die. It’s very sad because of her selfishness, some of these kids will have no quality of life whatsoever. I see it everyday. I am praying for those poor kids.

By Been There

February 1, 2009 1:24 PM | Link to this

I’m not sure if this has been covered because I don’t have time now to read all 90 previous entries, but… the correct term in “transfer embryos,” not “implant embryos.” The most the doctor can do is to place (transfer) the embryos into the potential mother. Implantation is still one step that is completely up to nature.

By Salamander

February 1, 2009 1:40 PM | Link to this

*Tiffany *

Well, I’m sorry I offended you, but I stand by my hunch that this woman is probably quite religious and most likely a Christian. In the USA, it seems that Christians are the most likely demographic to go overboard and have a ridiculous amount of children, further burdening our hospitals and government agencies while compounding the global human over-population problem.

And while we’re on the subject of children - I’d bet another $50 that many of this woman’s kids grow up to be poor, uneducated criminals leeching off the state.

Have a nice Sunday!

By Ayn Rand was Right

February 1, 2009 1:47 PM | Link to this

There is nothing natural about this “transfer”.

By JATL

February 1, 2009 3:28 PM | Link to this

This whole story makes me so angry and disgusted I’m going to have to quit following it. There are not enough ugly words to describe this dumb fool and her stupid doctor (s). For those of you who evidently didn’t read the entire story -the California taxpayers are going to be kicking in 3.5 million for the births alone. She never should have done this and she SHOULD have reduced the embryos down to 2 since she went ahead with her idiot idea. Don’t give me this crap about “psychological scarring from reduction” -if you’re willing to play with nature and have in vitro when the God you believe in didn’t let you get pregnant the old fashioned way -then why are you concerned with embryo reduction?

I hope someone holds her down and gives her a hysterectomy AND slaps every tooth in her head out for sheer stupidity.

By elizabeth

February 1, 2009 3:55 PM | Link to this

Agreed JATL!

By Mel

February 2, 2009 2:23 PM | Link to this

My daughter had our first grandchild in December with the help of in-vitro, just after my son-in-law was laid off.

They were trying ot get cheaper private insurance to replace COBRA, but were told that neither could get private insurance because she had in-vitro. Apparently, new regs in January applies to the father too!!!

By nurse&mother

February 2, 2009 3:36 PM | Link to this

So Mel, what did you daughter do for insurance? Stick with cobra? Did you son in law find another job?

By 1911A1

February 3, 2009 12:27 PM | Link to this

Sounds like she wants to be the next Kate Gosselin.

God help us all.

By Indian Girl

February 6, 2009 12:24 PM | Link to this

An UNWED mother having 14 children. This is totally irresponsible. What type of message is she sending to other girls. Who is going to supoport her and her litter!

I also have questions are to the validity of her becoming a counselor. How can you counsel rationally when you yourself have exhibited behavior that borderlines on mental illness. If you are infertile, you are infertile. DEAL WITH IT AND ADOPT AN UNWANTED CHILD.

By CC

February 6, 2009 12:25 PM | Link to this

Am I the only one creeped out at how much this woman looks like Angelina Jolie? I think it’s obvious that she is having children to fill a void in her life. Hopefully she will have the means to support them once she receives her degree. However, does she realistically think she can finish school and work fulltime with 14 children???

By Mad mommy

February 6, 2009 12:41 PM | Link to this

Are we sure she was at the “hospital” to work when she first got hurt? Sounds like she should be a patient more than a physican.
YIKES!!

By Mark

February 6, 2009 12:41 PM | Link to this

I think it’s time to spay this mental case.

By newswatcher

February 6, 2009 12:41 PM | Link to this

Fox News reported that “SuperMom” received $165,000 California taxpayer dollars for disability while she was having her first 6 kids. I think this helps explain who’s paying for them…

By Reuben

February 6, 2009 12:47 PM | Link to this

Why the media is continuing promoting this crazy woman? Is she is going to be the next queen of a talk show? Are we that dumb?

By Nancy

February 6, 2009 12:50 PM | Link to this

Just because all the plumbing is in working order doesn’t mean the wiring is. This woman needs a gut check - she’s single, living with her parents, and thinks it’s smart to bring 14 innocent lives into the world? I agree with anyone and everyone who says that birth licenses should be necessary. I need a license to drive a car, for crying out loud, but not to bring a human into the world? Far too many people - who shouldn’t be - are parents these days.

By Melissa Smith

February 6, 2009 12:55 PM | Link to this

This woman should never have sex again in her life!!! 14 kids - no husband - just plain old stupid!!

Mimi

By Oh please

February 6, 2009 1:10 PM | Link to this

It seems to me that the doctors, hospital, or insurance company should have stepped in and refused to implant more embryos than was safe. What ever happened to do no harm? This was a HUGE risk for the mother and the children. If you don’t believe in assisted suicide, then you can’t possibly feel like it was okay to implant that many embryos. The mother didn’t want any of the additional embryos to be destroyed because they were all her children, but she could have just froze the embryos. Her family and friends can say what they like about her, but if she didn’t do this for publicity and potential monetary gains, then she is just crazy!

By Notre Don't

February 6, 2009 1:13 PM | Link to this

We’re told to “keep our laws off her body”. I guess that only applies when a baby is aborted … not if she wants to have 8 kids.

By David S

February 6, 2009 1:14 PM | Link to this

Who paid for these procedures? If she did, why is she getting disability payments? If the state did, WHY? Why is she still getting disability payments when she is perfectly capable of carrying and birthing a litter of 8.

I don’t care how many children someone has so long as they pay their own way. It just doesn’t seem like that is the case with this one at all.

By new step mom

February 6, 2009 1:19 PM | Link to this

CC-so glad someone else saw the Angelina Jolie thing. That was my immediate thought. At least Angelina adopts from all over and can support her 6 kids. This lady is pitiful in her dillusion and her kids and taxpayers will pay for it.

By Mark

February 6, 2009 1:24 PM | Link to this

14 kids and no husband. Where I come from we call them w*******.

By Ingrid

February 6, 2009 1:26 PM | Link to this

This woman is a single mother of six. The doctor never should have implanted any embryos into this woman’s body. How is she taking care of the children before the eight came alomg? TYhis woman is selfish thinking only of herself. Not the welfare of 14 children!

By momtoAlex&Max

February 6, 2009 1:28 PM | Link to this

Dang it all. The more I read about this woman, the more po’ed I get.

I am sick and tired of other people getting free health care when I struggle to make my own dang insurance payments every month.

AAARRRRRRGGGGGGGH!!!

I hope she never gets another red cent from any company, from the government or from her church. I am so angry about this.

By NOT A LOSER

February 6, 2009 1:38 PM | Link to this

If she could pay to have the invitro and pay to raise the kids fine, but let’s face it she is a loser! She works the system as so many losers do. Taxpayers will pay for her kids as I’m sure they have paid for her education! If I could have afforded to have had more than the two I have I would loved to have had more. But, I take responsibility for myself, my children and I am not a loser!!!

By Sandy

February 6, 2009 1:42 PM | Link to this

This is absolutely the most insane thing I have ever heard of?? Who PAID FOR THE FERTILITY TREATMENTS? She doesn’t work, sucks up disabilty… WHO PAID? And her failed marriage… well my marriage would fail too if I kept getting implanted with another man’s children!!!! What doctor in his right mind administers fertility treatments to an single, unemployed mother of 6 with a history of medical problems????? Again, who paid?? My friend has had fertility treatments that cost around 20K… So who paid the 120K plus for all this treatment???

By Nicole

February 6, 2009 1:42 PM | Link to this

Not only are we supporting them with our tax money, but we are supporting them through our healthcare insurance. Everytime you renew your insurance, ask yourself why the annual premium increased. Eight premies in the hospital for 3 months will be in the millions.

By E

February 6, 2009 1:43 PM | Link to this

Who is paying for this? CA has no money so who will be left holding the bill? Why does the media spend so much time on this? The media does more harm than good by highlighting this tragedy.Our economy is in bad shape because folks are not held accountable for what they do. The mother, the medical world along with the media are contributing to this tragedy. So if I do not want to work again have babies, alert the media who will make a circle out of it and I will laugh all the way to the bank. If you can pay for them, if it does not interfear with your or the babies health then go for it. However none of this apply. I love my kid as much or more than the next mother. I work to provide for her. I do not look at the government who has the largest deficient in years to pay for something that I could have avoided. With all the problems we are faced with in this country the front pages of the papers and headlines of the news talks about a very trouble young woman who has 14 kids. If there is a psychiatrist out there willing to treat this lady, please speak now! One day I maybe able to understand this but not today.

By Marilyn

February 6, 2009 1:50 PM | Link to this

Um, How could she afford all of this being unemployed and why would a Dr do it for her with no support system?

By hotlanta

February 6, 2009 1:57 PM | Link to this

I bet a $1.00 some of Hannity/Bill O’Reilly is p** that she isn’t a black woman costing the system all of this money so that they can rant and rave allllll day and night.

By CJ

February 6, 2009 2:02 PM | Link to this

And they worry about gays having children? Women like this are WAY worse for kids than a stable gay family would ever be!

For crying out loud, this woman cannot possibly expect to: 1) keep these children well-fed, 2) provide them health insurance, 3) provide them clothing for all 4 seasons, 4) send them to college, and the list goes on and on. What a selfish, greedy, and frankly completely unfit mother! Shame on her!

By Not One Penny

February 6, 2009 2:11 PM | Link to this

Not one penny of my tax payers money, in any form, should go to this idiot starving for attention. She is just as crazy as the Florida lady that allegedly killed her child. How selfish can you be? No welfare, no free clinics, etc. You made your bed, now lay in it…without hand-outs.

By Dad

February 6, 2009 2:24 PM | Link to this

My viewpoint comes directly from my religious beliefs, with no apologies. This poor woman has broken two laws of the Church. 1. She had children out of wedlock; and 2. she was artificially inseminated. No matter what one’s religious beliefs may be, one can see the wisdom of the Church’s laws in this case. Both of her transgressions are unnatural, although most people need a more extreme example to recognize this fact.

By alch

February 6, 2009 2:24 PM | Link to this

That Jon & Kate plus 8 post was hilarious!!

By Tiger fan in GA

February 6, 2009 2:28 PM | Link to this

She was completely irresponsible to have all of these kids with no job….Period! The fertility clinic should be investigated and laws should be put in place from allowing them ever implant any woman with more than 2.

By The Devil's Adversary

February 6, 2009 2:32 PM | Link to this

Perhaps ABC will give her a show to find herself a husband to care for her litter??? Who Wants to Marry A _

By Tiger fan in GA

February 6, 2009 2:38 PM | Link to this

From GA Liberal: Yea, and while your at it, just make sure people with genetic defects are barred from reproducing because they burden society with excess medical costs. Or people with low intelligence (that would eliminate the Rethuglicon party). Or ugly people. I think you get the picture. What you are adovcating is nothing short of eugenics or genetic engineering. ++++++++++++ Sounds good to me. There should be some sort of qualification met before any can reproduce. If there were, I’m pretty sure I would not be reading your posts because you would not be here today. I have not read more ridiculous posts on any blog than the ones you post daily with your idiotic names for hard working republicans..

By richard

February 6, 2009 2:40 PM | Link to this

This exploding welfare case undersocres the need for our wonderful government to impose birth control such as China did 1 child and more you will be executed..This woman as well as many other trash that wants to emulate here should be sterilized by the same doctors who had her smiling face all over the news media gloating about the miracle . It is a medical disaster and the doctors are no better than the German doctors who experimented with the captive jews, homosexuals and gypsies. These doctors will burn in Hell!!!!

White European American Republican Male We Arm

By Yuck

February 6, 2009 2:55 PM | Link to this

This woman may not have a job but she sure looks to me to have found a way to pay for the “trout pout”. She claims she was raised in a disfunctional family. Well all the signs show her children won’t fare much better.

By catlady

February 6, 2009 2:59 PM | Link to this

Why was a “friend’s” semen used to fertilize her egges, when she was still a married woman?????

I hope the friend, who must have “given it up” as a gesture of “friendship” is slapped with child support payments. Unless it was the husband, then he can pay.

That she would think that because she wanted to have all these children that that is a reason she should burden others with their costs is incredible. That she could have drawn disability for an injury when she was just gestating repeatedly is incredible. I hope the state will take her houses and sell them to recoup a tiny portion of their losses.

This whole story strains credulity.

By Concerned

February 6, 2009 3:12 PM | Link to this

It is a fact that this lady had a problem to want to give birth to that many babies. The truth is the children are here now and they have to be taken care of. They should’nt have to suffer because of their mothers mistake.Society should rally around making sure these babies are clothes, fed, and a roof over their heads just like all the other in the USA. Jon & Kate should donate some of their good fortunes to her since they pretend to be such good christains on television.

By John

February 6, 2009 3:12 PM | Link to this

This thug should be thrown in jail! What a horrible mom. Then again, anyone surprised? She is black of course.

By Mommy of 3 by IVF

February 6, 2009 3:18 PM | Link to this

The doctors should have not implanted 6 embryos into a woman who has already multiple births from IVF. I can have gone thru IVF three times. My first cycle resulted in 14 embryos the best 3 were implanted and a healthy baby girl was carried to full term. My second cycle using frozen embryos was not successful. My third cycle resulted in 12 embryos and my doctor informed me that he was only going to implant 2. I was upset I wanted 3 just like the first time. My doctor told me “NO” - he was already afraid that I was going to have twins. My doctor stated that he was not going to be responsible for triplets especially since I had a 4 year at home. He stated he was not implanting 3 because they were all 100+ cells (unlike last time they were on 8 cells) and he knew this cycle was going to be successful. He asked me to trust him as the professional. I did and gave birth to a set of twins. OMG, I am so glad I did - my now 2.5 year old twins are driving me crazy along with my 7 year old (in a good way). Thank you Dr. Mark Perloe.

By catlady

February 6, 2009 3:23 PM | Link to this

John, one of us needs to get their eyes checked….

By Miss Daisey

February 6, 2009 3:29 PM | Link to this

The taxpayers will be footing the bill for this deranged woman’s behavior. The agency making these payments shoudl seek reimbursement from the fertility doctor/clinic/provider that is responsible.

By pj

February 6, 2009 3:30 PM | Link to this

I agree with Ayn Rand was Right. AND…it’s NOT JUST ABOUT MONEY! No one or even two people can physically care for eight babies - it is not logistically possible to feed/care for them all and sleep/care for yourself, let alone earn money. HUMANS WERE NOT MEANT TO HAVE LITTERS. I know women who were refused sterilzation because of their age, yet this was allowed to happen. And those of you complaining about “no husband,” get off your old-fashioned judgemental high horses. Obviously a husband isn’t phyically “necessary” - neither is sex as some of you said! But I know if you get “public assistance,” they are going to go after the father for his share, so we need new rules for these new types of circumstances.

By Decatur

February 6, 2009 3:32 PM | Link to this

John

You are an idiot! This woman is WHITE. Check your eyes.

By Becky

February 6, 2009 3:33 PM | Link to this

catlady, guess me too..Mommoy of 3, the twins will keep driving yo crazy in a good way also..I have grandchildren that are twins & they are 6, wouldn’t trade any of what craziness I’ve been through with them for anything in the world..

Our big joke is that I soemtimes tell them that I’ll trade them (her) for a pair of pink shoes & she’ll laugh at me & say no you wan’t trade me nor would you sell me..For the boy it’s the same except trading him for a new Mustang..He’s a car freak..LOL..

Hope that you enjoy every single moment that you have with them & I’m glad that you were able to have them..

By pj

February 6, 2009 5:21 PM | Link to this

I agree with Ayn Rand was Right. AND…it’s NOT JUST ABOUT MONEY! No one or even two people can physically care for eight babies - it is not logistically possible to feed/care for them all and sleep/care for yourself, let alone earn money. HUMANS WERE NOT MEANT TO HAVE LITTERS. I know women who were refused sterilzation because of their age, yet this was allowed to happen. And those of you complaining about “no husband,” get off your old-fashioned judgemental high horses. Obviously a husband isn’t phyically “necessary” - neither is sex as some of you said! But I know if you get “public assistance,” they are going to go after the father for his share, so we need new rules for these new types of circumstances.