The Diagnosis and The “Choice”

“I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”                     John 10:10

“I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses…. now choose life…” Deuteronomy 30:19

On September 27, 2012, we received the news from the specialist; our precious baby girl has Thanatophoric Dysplasia, type II, a very rare and severe disorder ( I will spare you the details, google at your own risk). We were told she is not expected to survive the pregnancy and if she does, her little lungs and heart will not likely be able to sustain life. At that point, the specialist gave us a choice to make; “if” we wished to continue the pregnancy.  For John and I, the choice, but for the grace of God, had been made long before we were even married, long before we chose a Pro-Life Doctor, before Abby was born, and long before we sat in the High Risk Perinatologist at Sinai Hospital’s office chairs. We both have always believed very strongly in the value and dignity of all human life, in all circumstances. We unflinchingly shared our choice with the specialist and were joined shortly thereafter by our wonderful Doctor who has supported us every step of the way.

Since that day, we have had a “choice” to make, we can view our daughter as a diagnosis, and bury ourselves in grief for our own potential loss, or we can see her as part of our family, as the child of God she is created to be, journeying towards heaven as we all are…. As I hope to share with you throughout this blog, we have “chosen life” and to love her for as long as she has life and beyond. We have made a choice to celebrate and enjoy each day that her heart beats as the gift from God that it is. We have chosen to share her with you in hopes that she may impact your lives as she has ours, treasuring every moment.