Hello, this is my first post here and I will try and be breif. I am not a JW but have an uncle and family who is strong into their belief. My cousin (his son) is in the hospital and had a bad accident at work. His leg is mangled and had some head trama. From what I have heard he needs blood and is swelling pretty bad. I don't think he is going to make it, because they wont give him blood. My family of 10 aunts and uncles are not JW, my uncle married into the religion and all of my family are EXTREMELY close. He pretty much told all of us that we need not come to the hospital because "there was nothing that we could do." well that is bullshit. Family is family! I guess all of their JW family or whatever you call them are helping, so if we go to the hospital then would it get him into trouble? He phoned my mother (his sister) yesterday and broke down and said he really needed "his people up there" so what is that supposed to mean? I cannot believe after 33 years I have not seen anyone in my family pass away except for my grandfather and my cousin who is my age is probably not going to make it and I cannot go see him. Is there nothing that i can do?? Also, why is it that they cannot associate with other people outside their faith, why can't they receive blood?
Someone in the JW faith please tell me what I can do. Will there be a funeral for him? Will I be able to attend? I'm just really lost on this whole thing, but I want to do what is right.
I am really sorry to hear that your cousin is so ill. I would say that if you want to go to see him, then go. Don't let someone else put you off doing what you feel is right.
Being cynical, I could say that it would suit the JWs to be able to say that his "worldy" family (that is what they call you) did not visit.
I really hope that he pulls through this and makes a full recovery.
maggie, sorry to hear about your cousin, go to the hospital to see if you can help, even jws cant stop you visiting your cousin, its only proper.
the reason they dont allow blood transfusions is that some men in america called the governing body make all the decisions for the jws, you have to try to understand that you will be dealing with a cult.
they have twisted scriptures in the bible to say that blood is not acceptable.if your cousin does die as you say he may, then yes you certainly can go to the funeral.
i do hope the outcome for you and your cousin is a good one. mr.alw
Yeah Maggie! Go to the hospital don't listen to what your uncle has to say. You also may find iti useful to read the article listed here: http://www.commentarypress.com/eng-search-ch9-01.html It will make understand how teribly wrong Jehovah's Witnesses are about the blood.
If your cousin need blood to save him they will refuse and he could possibly die. JW refuse all blood transfusions even if it is a matter of life and death. The reason they don't want you there is because you will protest them letting him die without blood. They like to keep their JW friend around them in a crisis.
Go all of you go let them know you care. They have been taught that no one but the JW congregation cares about them. Proof them the liars they are. As for your cousin dying with out blood, you won't change their mind. If he is a minor then the doctors could give him blood anyway without their permission in many states. You can check out information about JW's and blood at: www.ajwrb.org. It is Jehovah's Witnesses for blood reform. Not all JW agree about the blood being condemned by God.
