"Boy, 3, without cerebellum changes medical science"

"Boy born without cerebellum a 'mystery' to doctors"

"Medical miracle: New York boy living without cerebellum"

"Boy Living Without Cerebellum – A Medical Miracle"

"Child With Missing Cerebellum Shows Power of Human Spirit"

These are the headlines today in various news outlets, regarding Chase Britton, a three-year-old boy who (allegedly) has no cerebellum, and even more significantly, no pons - the part of the brain stem that controls respiration. And I'm sure that in the Orthodox community, this story will be picked up and presented to serve several purposes. It shows that, unlike Chazal, these know-it-all doctors really don't know anything! It shows that supernatural miracles take place! It shows that brain-stem death is not death!

Anyone who is thinking along these lines should read the following article at NeuroLogica: Reporting Medical Cases as Human Interest Stories: Chase Britton Edition.

The story of Chase Britton is marvelous and inspirational - but let's not make it into something that it isn't.