What the actual shit.

In defense of Jani's parents, I'd like to say that being schizophrenic has an disadvantage because the symptoms are only portrayed as behavioural, thus difficult to diagnose. Nonetheless, it is a mental illness and a substantially serious one at that. It is also very clear that Jani does show all the concrete signs of schizophrenia even at such an early stage. In this case, Jani is unable to control the immense power of unlimited secreted dopamine released in her brain. Her neural impulses are not maintained, thus causing her to act outwardly in what society deemed as "bad behaviour". Spanking her would only cause more detrimental results, such as frequent antisocial activity and decreased contact with the real world. It is extremely insensitive to accuse Jani's parents of being failures when all they've done is to try to make their daughter's life a little bit better, when all they've done is try to engage her in the real world instead of allowing her to be locked up in her hallucinations.

Obviously your research Jani's life is less than satisfactory for you to make such assumptions. Her parents have continually mentioned that throughout her childhood, they regarded her "imaginary friends" as childplay, like you suggested. That Jani just was special and had an overactive imagination. But by 5 years old, the hallucinations induced traits of violence in this little girl and she was trying to kill her father and trying to kill herself and trying to hit her baby brother Bodhi. That right there contradicts your claim "That every human being has the right to behave in any way that does not harm others or break fair and just laws."

Jani's parents would not have put Jani on medication if she were not hurting people and hurting herself. Again, it is extremely selfish, ignorant and dense to make such erroneous statements. You are not the one who's living with a child who's battling with her brain. You are not aware of what Jani's parents go through, neither more than I do. But I can imagine the stress, having the two separate apartments they have to keep in order to separate Jani from Bodhi, lest she tries to kill him in his sleep. They have gone to the extent of keeping Jani's apartment safe with no cleaning supplies, no knives, nothing potentially dangerous. Both parents sleep in separate apartments to keep both children safe.

Can you even imagine what a strain that would put on their marriage? They've done so much for their daughter, to help curb her mind and you're calling them failures? To me, they're one of the bravest, most self sacrificing pair of parents I've ever met. If anything this is unconditional love at it's best.

You also claimed that "Growing up, Jani was told that something was wrong with her, so naturally she began to develop symptoms". That is too inconclusive a statement to make. Again, if you've earnestly done your research, you'd realise that in early home videos Jani's parents have said nothing negative to Jani. They have never "diagnosed" her with schizophrenia, nor have they ever presupposed anything negative on Jani. It was only after she turned 5 and became violent, and when she became so lost in her hallucinations without being able to differentiate between her real and imaginary world that brought some cause for Jani's parents to bring her to see a psychologist. If they had left her alone, what kind of parents would they have been? Jani only received her diagnosis at 5 years old, of having childhood schizophrenia. She was not told there was something wrong with her prior to being diagnosed.

I feel so much for Jani. I was awake for 3 nights, watching her videos and thinking about her and thinking about her family. I wish I could help but I know so little. But for people like her, for children like her, I will learn what I can and when I am a practicing psychologist... It is my desire to do what I can for them. Whatever I can, in whatever ways.

So please, stop the accusation of her parents. Pray for them, pray for their strength and that they'll be encouraged daily. We don't need more negativity in a situation already so critical.