Prince Friso in Critical Condition Following Skiing Accident: February 17, 2012

[lucien]

Originally Posted by gerry

Indeed let this speculation stop, just as the Dutch Television service NOS has announced it will no longer broadcast images of this family in grief.

Indeed,let the untimely speculation stop.No-one knows what is next,no-one least of all here,and in our country.No more news this weekend.

And no,Friso has no system working on itself at all,none,working without support Duke of Marmelade,saw your question,but no,sorry.

All one might hope for,and I mean that,is the news dear Friso was called to his Maker due to the complications inflicted.That is all.

It is just too too sad to linger in " what ifs" and " yes buts" ....It is no use.

Please light a candle for mercy for the Prince,Princess Mabel & the children and HM.

[kalnel]

Originally Posted by XeniaCasaraghi

I have never heard of this story.

They turned it into a movie with Glenn Close and Jeremy Irons called, "Reversal of Fortune."

[Breffney]

My thoughts and prayers go out to Friso, Mabel and all the Family.

[Breffney]

My thoughts and prayers go out to Friso, Mabel and all the Family. Until I hear any news to the contrary I will hope for positive news.

[Kataryn]

Originally Posted by lucien

Indeed,let the untimely speculation stop.No-one knows what is next,no-one least of all here,and in our country.No more news this weekend.

And no,Friso has no system working on itself at all,none,working without support Duke of Marmelade,saw your question,but no,sorry.

All one might hope for,and I mean that,is the news dear Friso was called to his Maker due to the complications inflicted.That is all.

It is just too too sad to linger in " what ifs" and " yes buts" ....It is no use.

Please light a candle for mercy for the Prince,Princess Mabel & the children and HM.

Lucien, as always I have the feeling you are well placed in your home country to have a good basis of information and I really want to thank you for sharing that with us.

But - what you say is so, so bad. Yes, I guess the most fortunate solution might be that the Lord or Nature or whatever High and Mighty takes away the decision making for the poor family.

Let's pray they won't have to go to that point of absolute emotional nakedness when one realises that we are not longer living in paradies, being eternals but are just a bunch of mortals who have to make terrible decisions forever and ever. May the Lord spare them, especially Mabel.

[Grandduchess24]

The man thing is that he is alive, thank goodness but now the queen are looking for rehab centers for prince friso in the area or in the Netherlands. He is alive all we can do is pray that the rehab goes well. My prayers go to the Dutch royal family and prince frisco's family.

[crm2317]

Originally Posted by Grandduchess24

The man thing is that he is alive, thank goodness but now the queen are looking for rehab centers for prince friso in the area or in the Netherlands. He is alive all we can do is pray that the rehab goes well. My prayers go to the Dutch royal family and prince frisco's family.

As Lucien has already said Prince Friso has no body function and is only alive because a machine is keeping him alive. To me this is not living.

[Lumutqueen]

Originally Posted by crm2317

As Lucien has already said Prince Friso has no body function and is only alive because a machine is keeping him alive. To me this is not living.

I agree, this is an awful tragedy but letting it continue IMO would do more harm to Mabel, the girls, the family than good.

[Sunnystar]

Originally Posted by crm2317

As Lucien has already said Prince Friso has no body function and is only alive because a machine is keeping him alive. To me this is not living.

Agreed, one thousand percent. Now is the time to pray for mercy and relief for the entire family but most especially for Friso.

[MarNoe]

A while back someone posted that we should all stop this speculating and, basically, drop interest in this board. It got me to thinking why we are all here. Through these forums we have all become acquainted with these various royal families, and to us they are almost like friends/family. Without any concrete news all we can do is "what if". It is the only way we can show our concern. We mean no harm - rather we are fully involved and care very much what may or may not happen. So please let us speculate - it is how we are coping with this tragic news.

[Tarlita]

In the 1990s, I remember seeing a photo in a Royalty magazine of the three brothers dressed in army fatigues and all were looking so fit and musclely and handsome, especially Friso. This vital young man in the photo is the way I would like to remember him best.

[Kellydofc]

Originally Posted by MarNoe

A while back someone posted that we should all stop this speculating and, basically, drop interest in this board. It got me to thinking why we are all here. Through these forums we have all become acquainted with these various royal families, and to us they are almost like friends/family. Without any concrete news all we can do is "what if". It is the only way we can show our concern. We mean no harm - rather we are fully involved and care very much what may or may not happen. So please let us speculate - it is how we are coping with this tragic news.

Thank you, that is what I think as well.
I feel horrible for the royal family. So horrible that I even feel guilty for putting Mabel on my worst list for royal bridal gowns.
I'm sure this same discussion is being carried on all over the Netherlands and Germany.
Perhaps there are people who think we are being heartless by discussing all the possibilities but I think that what we are trying to do is wrap our brains around it so that no matter what happens we are at least slightly prepared for it. That doesn't lessen our grief or heartbreak for this family and is not meant to be disrespectful, at least on my part.

[marine2109]

Forecast bleak for Friso of the Netherlands: suffering severe brain damage and remains in a coma that could last months or years

Friso de Holanda sufre un gran daño cerebral y permanece en coma

Google Google Translate

[suztav]

I think these boards are "our" support system and most people just need to talk things through during times of despair.

[Rebafan81]

OMG, I am sad beyond belief and I don't "know" any of the family but because we watch, talk and speculate here and on other forums, we kind of feel like we are a part of them. I am so terrribly sad, I look at the pictures of HM and the family and can relate with what they are feeling. My brother drown when he was just 22 years old, I was 19, closest to him in age and personality. When they found my brother,they also were able to revive him after he had been in the water for 30 minutes,thankfully he passed away after about 20 minutes, so we weren't faced with the difficult desicion that the family must now ponder. My mom, God Bless her, handled it with dignity that made all of us proud of her, so I can related to the family in a way I wish I didnt have to. I will continue to say prayers for them because living in limbo is worse, thank God they seem like the kind of family that will be there for each other throughout whatever might be the outcome. God Bless Them all!!

[Tyger]

Such events give rise to relevant conversations about these conundrums of modern life. BTW the situation with the Prince finally made it onto the International News but without naming him. What was said was that one of the sons of the Queen of the Netherlands was in a coma. That was all.

The situation for the family may be far more complicated as there may not be a consensus opinion within the family itself on what to do. Some might want to hold onto hope - some may be inclined to be more pragmatic, or even claim to know what Friso would want done in such circumstances. The potential for conflict here is very high - depending on how openly discussed such was talked about in the family (in my family we all know the will of each other - and we tend to be a 'pull-the-plug' kind of people - fully supported by my sister who is a nursing administrator in NYC). One can only imagine the heartache its causing on top of the tragedy itself. We know - indeed, I know from my own experience in such matters - that it can tear apart families, even the best of them.

It is why (in the US, anyway) a Living Will is deemed so essential. This situation is explored in the recent film 'The Descendants' with George Clooney. The only reason the life supports could be removed was because the wife had signed a Living Will indicating her wishes in the event of just such a situation - so that her will in the matter was a legal imperative that not even the doctor could go against. The Living Will trumped every other person's wishes - and saved the husband from being 'the bad guy'. Given the uncertainty it seems clear that the Netherlands does not have the Living Will option, or if they do, the Prince did not have one.

In this case - at least in the US - the wife would have the final authority, sans a Living Will, to decide what to do. One can assume that because the mother-in-law is a Queen, the situation will not be that clear-cut in the family.

I do not envy this family. Yet if there is no Living Will option in the Netherlands, it is perhaps an opportunity to start the legal wheels turning to implement such a law. A family faced with such a situation is saved enormous burdens of guilt and questioning if a Living Will exists.

[Jacknch]

Originally Posted by suztav

I think these boards are "our" support system and most people just need to talk things through during times of despair.

A wonderful post and I agree. Thanks Suztav.

[sjetajiem]

The procedure in the Netherlands is : when the prognosis of a coma patient (with irreversible heavy brain dammage with practically no possibilities to wake up from a coma) are that bad, doctors can stop treatment (supply with food).
I think, but I am not sure, that a patient will be placed in a nursing home where he can dy

[genegirl99]

I read about the comparison to Terri Schavio in the US the difference is she could breathe on her own and was being fed by a feeding tube. Even in her "persistent vegetative state" state she seemed to recognize her mother's voice and followed a balloon with her eyes. When her stroke first happened she did have therapy and was responding, though she'd never have a normal life again. Then suddenly her husband ordered the therapy stopped while at the same time it was revealed he had a girlfriend, hence the conspiracy that he did something to Terri that caused her to have a stroke. Nurses who took care of Terri couldn't even put a wet wash clothe on her hands to prevent her fingers from curling. Terri's parents and brother fought Terri's husband tooth and nail over the removal of the feeding tube. They wanted to take care of her and even understood that he moved on. In the end he got his way because he said that Terri said she didn't want to be kept alive by machines. Who knows what Terri's wishes were? She didn't have a living will and after that people getting living will went up.

I wondered if this was the case with Friso, but now it's clear. Horrible situation all around.

[MARG]

IMHO we all now know as much as we have been told officially. Prince Friso is "significantly" brain damaged. We all now know the options open to the family. Please let us allow them to make their informed decision without us adding to the external pressure of public opinion and the media's part in it.

May God give the family the strength to do what is necessary for them and us the grace to accept without comment.