Mothering

I watched and listened to two mothers today deal with their respective daughters' lives. Both made me cry.
A close friend of mine watched her 22 year old daughter go into a surgery for 3 ruptured discs in the girl's back. They had fought tooth and nail for insurance to pay for this surgery. The powers that be first said she was too young for the surgery. If they had their way, she would be disabled and addicted to pain medication until she was 60, if she made it that long. It took a third, objective party to come in and make a decision. The daughter is of strong will like her mother and will pull through, BY GOD! You just gotta know this kid.
The second mom is that of a 12 year old girl. The mother is so paranoid of the world and what it could do to her daughter, she is pulling her daughter out of school to "home school" her on the internet. There are times when this action is completely reasonable and justifiable. This is not one of the those times. This girl will not be given a chance to live. To breathe or to just be normal. Until her mother's death, this girl will not be allowed to live. Period.
This is wrong. Administration feels its hands are tied. No one individual feels empowered enough to take the risk and help this girl. Something has to be done. I just don't know what.
Any takers?