This week, Faithwire shared the heartbreaking story of one British couple who aborted their daughter at 22 weeks after learning she would likely be born with Spina Bifida, a serious birth defect that would make life “challenging” for their family. In interviews with several U.K. news outlets, the couple stressed that their decision was one of love and compassion for their daughter, stemming from their desire to spare her great suffering.
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The most tragic part of this story, aside from the death of sweet baby Amalie, is that it is reflective of how our society views children, especially those with disabilities. It is a wicked and warped view, absent of any true love or compassion.
Our readers responded to our piece with their own beautiful and deeply inspiring stories of choosing life for their children and loved ones, shattering the modern myth that some lives simply aren’t worth living. We’ve included a few of these testimonies below:
Lizzie Anderson: My daughter was diagnosed with spina bifida at 12 -14 weeks. It was bad. Subsequent ultra sounds showed it. They told me she wouldn’t live.that I would lose her soon.i was devastated.i prayed so fervently and put her in Father’s hands.
I didn’t lose her. My pregnancy continued .the ultra sounds showed extremely bad spina bifida. When time came and I went into labor the Drs were all set up for an emergency care for her.and then she was born. The Drs were in shock.they we’re talking among themselves. I kept asking if she was ok. And they put her on my belly. There was NO SIGN OF SPINA BIFIDA he spine was enclosed and the skin over it was perfect. They did MRI and cat scan and flouriscope. It showed that somehow she had a thin bone covering and normal muscle and skin over that part of her spine. Today she is 31 years old. She’s led a pretty normal life so far. She just couldn’t do certain things like contact sports. Father gave us a miracle. Which I will praise and thank Him forever for.
Carissa Beard Corson: My daughter was prenatally diagnosed around the same time with a condition called Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (deletion of genetic material on the 4th chromosome). We walked away from the dr’s office devastated. BUT, God! He has provided us everything we need to give this child a happy and joyous life. She does not walk, does not talk, but (aside from our faith in Jesus) she gives us more joy than anything! These people have no idea what they’re missing out on! Sad.
Joanne Jung: My son-in-law was born with spina bifida. He had surgeries and suffered harrowing rejection. Despite all of this, he grew up and eventually met and married my daughter. In the 20 plus years I have known him, despite daily unbelievable pain, he has never complained. He and my daughter have a beautiful 12 year old daughter and they adopted my grandson after my younger daughter’s tragic death. Mark works part-time, and is an incredible husband, father, and son. Every life is precious and a gift from God and is to be accepted, supported, loved, and cherished.
Christina Mullally: Here is my daughter 2x National Champion who Plan Parenthood doctors tried to get me to have a late term abortion because there was a very good chance that she would have Down Syndrome and other neurological problems. This was based on the length of her pinky fingers and amniocentesis because of my age. As I watched the 3D ultrasound of her sucking her thumb, smiling and literally playing in my womb and her heart beating strong. They kept saying it’s not to late to abort the fetus. I slapped the midwife and never returned to Planned Parenthood again.
Bethany Holland Hatchett: Wow. I was told the same thing at my 20 week scan, and offered the choice of abortion. The thought of abortion never entered my mind. My twins are almost 3 now … .
Aymi Lynn: This beautiful little girl was given a 15% chance of survival to her due date due to a diagnosis of Trisomy 18. Termination was suggested. Guess what? She doesn’t even have Trisomy 18 and is an amazing, smart, and graceful dancer. Doctors, ultrasounds, and blood tests can all be wrong! Even if they weren’t, I would have loved her the same and held her for as long as I could.
Donna Turner: Had a friend whose son was born with his brain on the outside of his head. Doctors tried to get her to abort. She refused, placing it all at the feet of the Lord. The child was born, they did surgery to put his brain in place, he made it through just fine. He is about 16 now and is as smart, cute, funny, happy as can be. Absolutely no problems.
Lilia Silva: My baby tested positive for spina bifida but we continued with the pregnancy. We lost our baby girl at 22 weeks. They didn’t do it for her but themselves because they are selfish. God was in control of our baby girl but i would love her to be with us today.
Stacy Blake: Here is my kiddo with spina bifida…..he isnt anything the drs said he would be. He is a rockstar.
Debra Cable: I know a child , babysat him , his parents were told he had spinabifida , they chose to continue the pregnancy , that boy was a handful, running jumping and a very happy perfectly normal child in every way , glad they chose life for him
Michelle Kotrc Jud: It makes me crazy when people take the doctor’s prediction as the final verdict. Pregnant with twins, the doctor told me at 21 weeks that my daughter had spina bifida. They told me she would die in utero, shortly after birth or be a “vegetable” for the rest of her life. She was not born with spina bifida but an encephalocele. Today she is a 13 year old Special Olympics athlete, Girl Scout, Miss Amazing participant, aspiring musician and more!
One brave reader shared that as an unexpectedly pregnant teen, she let doctors pressure her into aborting her child. Stories like Samantha’s are equally important in showing the devastating effects of abortion on women, children and families.
Samantha Smith: I was one who thought as these people did. I was 17, and lost. Was on lots of psych medications. Hated life then. Was not on birth control, nor would I hold in check my desires. My boyfriend was not very happy with my decision. My Dr told me that with the medication I was on, I would have a 5% chance of having a normal child. I did not put my trust in the Lord, and made a terrible decision. I decided that killing that child would be better than possibly sending that child into the system that could never defend itself. I went to school with kids in the system, could tell you horror stories of things that have happened to them in the system. I could not trust the Lord and His plan, and yes, a murder is what I sanctioned. My biggest mistake, and one I hope to help others not make.
Incredible, courageous testimonies. To all who boldly shared their stories with us and other readers, we thank you. These stories need to be told — they are the antidote to the poisonous rhetoric of the abortion camp. This is how we can take back our culture.