Monday, January 24, 2011

This post isn't about food. It's about a very special life.

This week marks yet another anniversary of Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal.  Please, do not deluge me with hate mail if you do not agree with my position.  I am the mother of a child not deemed worthy of life by many.  I felt the need to share this today.  Please read my story.


My daughter was considered "disposable" by most of the medical community.  She had a fairly rare chromosomal disorder called Trisomy 18.  Although "so-called termination" was never considered, we opted for an amnio to find out what we were dealing with.  When the results came back with a problem where 85% of pregnancies end in stillbirth or miscarriage and 90% of those 700 or so born alive each year will not live to their first birthday, the perinatologist "recommended a D&C."  When I commented that my baby was still alive, he said, "If you know she is going to die anyway, does it really matter when?"  I was horrified.  YES.  It does matter.
 
Our baby girl survived and defied so many dire predictions!  She lived with us almost seven months before going home to Jesus' comforting arms!  We had 206 days to cuddle and snuggle.  We had over six months to build memories of her with our (then) four year old son.  Seven people accepted Christ's invitation for a personal relationship at her Celebration of Life Service.  That this tiny life had a purpose!  She was here for a reason!  Was she perfect physically?  No.  Had she lived, would she have been mentally agile?  No.  Could she love and understand love?  I believe she did.
 
What is the measure by which we deem life "worth" keeping?  Where is the scale we use to measure a life's worthiness?  Is it really up to us to make those calls?  We chose to let God be God and determine the number of her days and we have been so blessed by the doing.

During this week where we pause and reflect on the sanctity of life, I wanted to add my two cents.  Life is sacred.  Period.  Our little girl has forever changed my life.  I will never be the same person I was before.  I am a bit older, perhaps a bit wiser.  While I had deeply held convictions before Audrey Grace came to stay for a while, they are now a part of my very being.  Every life has a purpose.  Every life has a reason for being.  God doesn't make mistakes.  And through it all, I can say that God is Good, all the time.

Thank you for listening.

7 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for sharing this most precious story about your daughter's very significant life. Praise God!

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  2. DoleValleyGirl,
    You are most welcome. My baby girl went home to Heaven in 2004 and I believe I wrote this in 2005 or 2006. Every year or two, I feel the need to re-share. Every life, no matter how small, impacts the world and we all need to remember it. :) <3

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  3. What a beautiful, beautiful story! What a dear you are!

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  4. What a beautiful testimony. So many times when doctors forsee a problem they want to elimanate that problem. Every little baby, no matter how they are formed in the womb is precious in His sight.

    I have multiple health issues, these issues developed in the womb but were only discovered in my late 30's and early 40's. I was also born without a hip socket. Over the last seven years since my diagnoses I have become stronger in Him.

    Thank you for sharing about your little angel.

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  5. Thank you, Farmer's City Wife. I was very blessed to have Audrey Grace in my life for the time I did.

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  6. Regina,
    I was absolutely horrified when the doctor told me to basically throw away my child. My (now ex) husband wanted to knock some sense into the doctor. Thankfully, he said it over the phone.

    I, too, have many health issues that have crept up in the past seven years or so. For me, it's been easier to deal with my own problems than it was to deal with Audrey's. But, I learned a lot about faith and trust while we had her and have continued to learn after she left us.

    When we go through trials, we can choose which path to take. We can choose resentment, anger, bitterness... or we can choose faith, trust, hope, healing. I have chosen the latter. It looks like you have, too. <3

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  7. Beautifully written. As always. Audrey is a special girl who has touched so many lives. I wish I had been able to know her and hold her. One of my biggest regrets is that I missed my opportunity.

    Every life is sacred whether it lasts a second or a hundred years. I admire you for your choice and your faith. God works in mysterious ways and we are not meant to always understand.

    ((hugs)) and love to you, as always...

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