Hello,
I am also new to this board. I don't believe in bashing the religion like some do. I do believe in "to each their own".
I do understand completely where you are coming from being confused. I too was confused for many years. I was a pioneer for years, served where the need was great, yadda yadda yadda. I am third generation JW and yes there is a fourth generation as well. I am one of the few members of my family that has walked way quietly from the "truth". I saw some very strange things, I saw some very bad things and I saw some wonderful things.
For all the bashing that is done about JW's, they have been very good to my mother who is very difficult to deal with. She has a physical handicap and she carries it like a bat that she bets people upside the head with. She has some wonderful friends who take care of her and are wonderful to her. For various reasons I am unable to attend to my mother. So the cong and the bros and sisters have been wonderful.
As for the blood transfusion, that should be a personal decision. Whatever you decide to do you must do it with all the facts and go from there. The one thing I will tell you is that I know working in the industry I work in (medical malpractice) that blood is often times used when doctors are sloppy. It may be possible to have the blood on hand should it be necessary for use during the surgery. But it is not always a necessity. Also, technology now a days has allowed for laser surgery in many surgical procedures. So just the same as JW's telling you that your son SHOULD NOT have a blood transfusion, do not buy into a doctor who is too quick to say that it is a MUST. You must research the subject fully. Research the doctor fully. Research the hospital and its staff fully. And from there make your decision.
On a personal note, my grandmother who was in the later stages of dementia accepted a blood transfusion. It was not until we were in the hospital with my grandmother and the issue of blood came up and my mother objected to it on the grounds of her mother being a JW did the doctors pull my grandmother's medical file and show my mother that her own mother had an a BT six months prior. Shortly thereafter my grandmother passed away. Unfortunately my mother found it necessary to tell her elders that my grandmother had had a blood transfusion eariler in the year and the elders informed my mother that my grandmother's funeral could not be held at the hall, nor were they willing to give her memorial talk. My mother was devistated. An elder went so far as to say that he did not know if my grandmother would be in the new system or not. Needless to say this upset my already grieving mother. I showed the "elder" the door and said to him as I was closing the door "only those who have sinned against the Holy Spirit are doomed to everylasting death but maybe those who mislead the congreation will also run the risk of being thrown into the lake of everylasting fire. maybe Jehovah will show you more mercy then you have shown my family."
I guess my point is that in every hall, cong, book study, personal home, you have people who are prone to judge. But for every elder that crushed my mother, there was a friend who held her up. I am sure that you will find those same friends to hold you up during this trying time. If not right in your hall, maybe here on this board.
My thoughts are with you.
