by A 19-year-old woman battling leukemia recently shared a heartbreaking story on Reddit’s r/AmIOverreacting forum about her mother prioritizing her younger daughter’s Dartmouth tuition over her life-saving treatment. The post has sparked outrage online, highlighting the extreme pressures some families place on young adults.
A Shocking Message from Her Mother
The young woman explained that after months of treatment, her mother texted her saying she couldn’t afford both her leukemia care and her sister’s college education. She quoted the text:
“My love, I think it’s very important to be rational and seriously consider what I brought up… Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. This also applies to family… Your sister desperately wants to go to Dartmouth. I cannot afford your treatment and her future.”
Her mother described her daughter’s continued care as a “fool’s errand” and urged her to “be practical” and accept the financial reality.
Daughter Pushes Back
Understandably shocked, the young woman questioned her mother:
“Is this why you had me update my life insurance policy? Is this why you’ve been pushing scheduling my follow-ups? I’m not gone. I have dreams. I have goals. I’m only one year older than Michaela. Why is she a priority over me?”
She emphasized her determination to survive and honor her future.
“I’ve only been in treatment for a few months. I can win and I’ll spend the rest of my life … paying you back like I promised and agreed to with the contract you had me sign. I’m not going to … smile and say, ‘Okay, yeah! Kill me for my sister!’”
The “contract” she referenced had been signed earlier under the guise of financial security, but it only served to highlight her mother’s controlling behavior.
Experts and Redditors Respond
Reddit users were quick to condemn the mother’s actions. Many urged the young woman to seek help from her doctor, social workers, and legal advisors, noting that at 19, she is a legal adult and can assert control over her insurance policies and medical decisions.
Medical experts note that this situation fits the criteria for emotional abuse, which includes harming a child’s self-esteem or emotional well-being. Child neglect definitions also apply when adequate medical care is withheld.
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Support and Next Steps
This young woman needs support, guidance, and advocacy from trusted adults, medical providers, and social workers to protect her life and well-being. Her mother’s proposal to choose one daughter’s life over the other is unacceptable, and she deserves care and respect.
“She deserves better than this,” one Reddit commenter emphasized.
Have you ever witnessed family conflicts affecting medical decisions? Share your experiences at race-day-live.com.
