My Life-Altering Brush With Abortion

My Brush With Abortion

Hearing about the bill that was just passed in New York State, legalizing the abortion of babies up until birth, has caused me to shed a lot of tears over the last few days. With my emotions in a jumble, I thought I would to share my experience with Abortion.

My Hubby and I were married in 2006 and found out we were pregnant in 2008. My first Ultrasound was perfect and I was so excited to be pregnant with a healthy baby. I went in for my gender scan around 5 months and I noticed that the ultrasound tech took longer than usual to complete my routine scan.  Later on that day, I received a phone call from my midwife explaining that they had found some abnormalities. An area of my baby’s brain (Cisterna Magna) was very prominent and they found 6 fingers on my baby’s right hand. She told me that she would be referring me to a specialist. The next few weeks I cried a lot and prayed for the healing of my baby. I was scared.

At our first appointment with the specialist, they scanned and measured every part of my baby’s body. At the end of the appointment the Doctor stood before us with her findings. She said that the 6 fingers were not on the right hand but were on the left hand. And my baby’s enlarged Cisterna Magna combined with the 6 finger finding was consistent with the chromosomal disorder, Trisomy 18. (Most babies with Trisomy 18 do not live past their first year of life) I was told that if for some reason my baby did not have Trisomy 18, it would definitely have learning, social and neurological disabilities. And then, she told me if I didn’t want to be pregnant anymore that the cutoff to terminate life in New York State was 24 weeks. I remember looking at her and telling her that I would never abort my baby no matter what was wrong with him. When she left the room all I could do was cry.

I left that office with a very heavy heart.  All I could think about was the what if’s. Over the course of a few months until my next appointment,  I did a lot of praying. I learned that I can’t worry about things that are beyond my control even though I so desperately wanted to be in control. I learned that God made my baby the way He wanted him to be. I knew that no matter what, I would still love my child.

My baby boy was born on March 9, 2008, 2 weeks early. Funny thing is, I didn’t count his fingers or toes when he was put in my arms. I was in love at first sight and I didn’t care about anything else. My baby spent the first 5 days of his life in the NICU but it was totally unrelated to the ultrasound findings.

The Doctor’s Were Wrong

Sometimes, I feel as though God does things just to prove to us that with all our technology and scientific advancement, we still don’t know everything. God is GREATER than man! He proved it with my son.

My baby was born with the correct amount of fingers on each hand. Yes, his head was big, but it runs in the family. He doesn’t have Trisomy 18 as predicted. And he doesn’t have any learning or social disabilities either. Anyone that knows my oldest son can tell you that socially he is one of the most outgoing kids. He loves talking to other children and adults and can navigate his way around a conversation quite well for his age. As for learning disabilities, he is 10 years old and he knows more about math, science and history than I do. He knows all the States and Capitals in the USA and self teaches from books on subjects ranging from Chemistry and the periodic table to Math etc… Believe it or not, he does this for fun. He LOVES to learn!

God Is Greater!

As I said above, I don’t know if God healed my son in-uteri. But if he didn’t, I was offered abortion based on human error. There would be one less beautiful person in the world if I had listened to that Doctor. It makes me disgusted that this happened and continues to happen. How many babies have been murdered because of a Doctor that has misled a mother or father into thinking that their baby was going to be disabled? Parents that would not normally consider abortion have chosen it because they are scared about what if’s. Ultimately, It is the individual at fault if they decide to take life but Doctors play a very important role as their patients trust them and their opinion.

Above is picture of my 7 week old baby, Faolin. I held in him in my hand and wept after he entered heaven. Even at this small stage of life, there is a face. My baby was not just a blob of tissue. It is only a blob of tissue to those who do not want to feel a connection with it. But that doesn’t make it any less of a person.

I believe in the sanctity of life, whether it be a disabled child, a product of rape or an unwanted child.  I am my child’s advocate. Every child should have someone to stand up for them.

My Oldest son is a miracle as he should not have lived past his first year. My daughter is a miracle because she is a rainbow baby, following a miscarriage. And my middle son, well, it’s just a miracle he is still alive due to his high-energy level. EVERY baby is a miracle.

Her is my little miracle. Well, large miracle now! I am praising Jesus for this life.

Kate