The one thing that you can say is that Tillmon Webb, 33, had unshakable faith. The over 500-pound man sat down in his recliner in March after an injury and waited for God — never getting up for eight months until he died.
His wife simply observed “The man totally believed in God and his healing.” Tillmon sat in the chair wearing nothing but a blanket for eight months and it appears that his wife did not call for medical intervention during that time.
In a poignant footnote given today’s health debate, they originally tried to schedule a medical appointment but they could not afford the $300 that the doctor wanted upfront.
Instead, he spent his time reading the Bible and praying for healing like Job. In his case, he remained in the recliner awaiting divine intervention.
He also posted sermons online and texted messages of faith through his cell phone. His wife could not keep him clean since it was impossible to roll him over for a bedpan, which must have produced nightmarish circumstances.
Eventually she called for an ambulance and the medical staff found him covered in sores. He died at the hospital.
Yet, his wife will not be charged and she does not regret allowing him to suffer in this condition, noting “If I feel anything right now, it’s envy for him because I wish he had taken me with him.” Now that is faith.
Previously, I wrote a column on faith-based abuse of children in the denial of health care. I believe adults have a right to deny themselves such care, though the assistance of the wife in this case raises some serious questions. Sitting in one’s filth for eight months raises an issue more of sanity than piety.
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Hey Buddha – what’s your problem, bud. Got yer knickers in a knot because Google images ripped off your avatar along with countless other blogs displaying the same image?
http://images.google.com/images?q=buddha+is+laughing&hl=en&sourceid=mozilla-search&num=20&start=0&start=0
Do you have the official copyright to the image or do you just enjoy hurling ad hominem attacks for no apparent reason?
I was going to change the gravatar, but in light of your ‘tude, I’m going to keep it indefinitely.
Nom de plume? Non. Nom de troll? Oui.
Speaking of quotes which come to mind:
“Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis.”
– SNL’s Jack Handy
And then to paraphrase a much-hated but nonetheless great comic, Woody Allen, from “Crimes and Misdemeanors”:
“A boxer is stepping into the ring. His brother turns to the family priest and says, ‘Father, pray for him.’ And the priest said, ‘I will, but if he can punch, it’ll help.’”
I even test drove it here in several versions for the regulars, including a nauseating purple version.
No, Peyton. Someone wouldn’t seem to have squat except a poor attempted forgery.
Seeing that I made my graphic for my avatar from scratch.
Eh, it’s me, Peyton. Seems someone else has the same gravatar.
Peyton, Is that you or Buddha? Blipped into a new timeline there Buddha? Sweet nom de plume for it.
Brings an entirely new level to the meaning of the word, anticipation.
Just two quotes for this astounding circumstance:
“There is however a limit at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue.”
~Edmund Burke
“The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I cause the widow’s heart to sing for joy.”
~Job 29:13 (KJV)
Well I guess his problem is that he did not have faith enough. Your faith shall set you free…..or maybe he did….
Reminds me of that old John Haitt song “Death by Misadventure”…
So be careful how you choose your path and who you pick to go with
Some folks they take to living fast while some prefer a slow death
Some folks get confused and never quite know how they’re going
When you’re laid out on that slab we’re all the worse for knowing
That the tag on your toe reads: Death by misadventure
What a silly way to go. Death by misadventure
How is this not criminal negligence? I understand deference to religious beliefs but this is ludicrous.
speaking of reminding:
I used to pray everyday for a bicycle when i was kid.
when i was twelve after fives years of praying i figured it out,
I stole one and asked god to forgive me.
(stolen from Emo Philips)
but seriously, his wife is complicit in his untimely(my opinion) demise.
In Texas we call that culling the herd.
This reminds me of the story of Murphy, who went to church, every day of every year, for year after year.
Every day he prayed to win the lottery.
One day the heavens opened and a voice from heaven spoke to him.
“Murphy.
“This is God.
“Give me a break.
“Just buy a ticket!”
[Stolen from novelist Philip Roth].
Maybe he should have looked at a few of the recent studies showing prayer has no medically discernible effect.
If he had only read this paper, published in The American Heart Journal, he would have known that La-Z-boys, jesus and soiling yourself continuously just aren’t enough anymore.
“In a poignant footnote given today’s health debate, they originally tried to schedule a medical appointment but they could not afford the $300 that the doctor wanted upfront.”
I disagree, we have a friend who is very poor, she had a stroke and was given excellent medical care both in hospital and the rehabilitation facility. She is pretty much recovered and either owes nothing or has a minimal payment of 10 or 20 dollars per month.
This man could have gone to a hospital and been treated at minimal cost to himself.
I guess the song ‘He Ain’t Heavy; He’s My Brother’ comes to mind. I guess he’s going to further disappointed when he finds that there is no life after death either!
This case illustrates the dangerous derangement that religion brings.
One more month and he would have Born Again.
Unshakable faith and unbelievable naivete. At least he is the only victim of his misplaced beliefs, and wasn’t making the decision for someone else.