Bumped
Tip of the hat to Dawn Eden for blogging about Donna Joy Vance, a 16-year-old whose mother refused to have her murdered in the womb, despite a chilling prenatal diagnosis. See the story and video.
Donna Joy’s mother said even if her baby lived only a few minutes, she wanted to “give her some dignity, wrap her up in a pretty blanket. Say ‘I love you’ and let her go.”
I imagine it’s pretty frightening to be told your unborn baby might be born blind, deaf, and faceless, but it comes down to this for Christian parents: Do you trust God? Whether the baby is born healthy or with deformities, Christian parents faced with a grim diagnosis must set boundaries. How far will you go? Murder is not justifiable because a baby will be born with serious problems.
Dawn links to two sources that help parents care for and cope with “abnormal” babies, Be Not Afraid and Prenatal Partners for Life.
By the way, there are people out there willing to adopt a baby with Down syndrome. Before you decide to kill your unborn child, consider contacting organizations like the Down Syndrome Association and Reece’s Rainbow. Also see Demand grows for children with Down syndrome.
Operation Life Transformed is a resource for families of wounded service men and women. Colleen Saffron, one of the organization’s founders, wanted to restore “dignity and hope” to families caring for and coping with war-wounded spouses. She aims to educate and equip these families to face the future. Colleen’s husband was injured in Iraq in 2004. (Hat tip: Mychal Massie)
Surf these sites, and help spread the word.
Update: Speaking of life, my favorite Hanson, “little” drummer Zac, is going to be a father in May.
May 5th would be a good day to give birth, don’t you think? 
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Our pastor had a similar story. Their baby only lived a few hours, but she died in a little outfit her grandmother had knitted her and in her parents arms who held her and loved her for her short life.
It is always so encouraging to hear the stories of people living by their convictions.
Thank you for this compassionate post. Thanks especially for plugging the Down Syndrome Association. My wife and I adopted our fourth child through this organization and they were very helpful. One thing about adopting special needs children is that the wait is significantly shorter. My wife & I completed our home study and within a week were chosen to adopt. And we’ve been blessed ever since! Thank you again.
thank you for the link, although not a right to life group Operation Life Transformed is about second chances.
I was also a 17 yr old pregnant girl 18 yrs ago so I have faced some tough decisions in life. It is never easy to do the right thing but in the end you are always glad you did!
Colleen
We have close friends who were told that their child would be born with severe defects and without a brain. That child is now a very intelligent 11yr. old girl who has proven the doctors and their tests wrong through God’s providence. Praises to Him!!
Beautiful story! The purpose of prenatal testing should be so the hospital can assemble a neonatal intensive-care team for the delivery if the results show abnormalities.
BTW, I’m partial to May 1st, myself…
LaShawn, I was transfixed by that beautiful teeny bundle nestled in the hands in the insert picture. I was thinking of what things that baby may grow up to do in his or her lifetime. Precious!
LaShawn,
Thanks for this post. This issue always quickens my heart because I was in a similar situation. I have a 2 year old whom the doctors say was born with Sickle Cell Anemia. At 20 weeks pregnant we were advised to meet with a specialist because both my husband and I had the trait for this disease. We decided to go to learn more, but we already knew we would never abort our child. The doctor asked if we wanted to find out for sure, because we might want an abortion. I firmly said I would never kill any of my children because of a possible problem. Well, we found out 1 week after he was born that he did have it, but guess what? He has not had any problems with it AT ALL. The problems (pain) I’m told usually start at 2 months. His doctors are very amazed, but not me. See when I was pregnant, I literally saw a beautiful, sparkly, white cross over his crib one night and I felt the presence of the Lord telling me he will be alright! That is not the only “supernatural” occurance I’ve had either. So to all parents who might find themselves in this situation remember to pray, trust God and be obedient to what he tells you to do!
Liberals are the same ones who have bumper stickers reading KEEP ABORTION LEGAL right next to their SAVE THE REDWOODS, SAVE THE RAINFORESTS, SAVE THE WHALES, SAVE THE SPOTTED OWL, SAVE THE FLOWER LOVING FLY, SAVE THE WILD SALMON bumper stickers.
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