Baby with Trisomy 18

     In the recent news there was a woman who was quite far along in her pregnancy (20 weeks) seeking an abortion. She wished to abort her baby but lives in Texas where abortions are allowed only if the mother is at risk because of the pregnancy.  The baby has Trisomy 18.  This is an extra chromosome 18. Trisomy 18 is also known as Edward’s Syndrome.  The reason this story has become news is because the mother sought an abortion based on the fact that the baby would probably not survive for long after its birth.   Babies with trisomy 18 usually die by age one, but not all.  Also, a C section to birth the baby could or may cause infertility.

 
     While I’m reading about Kate Cox and her dilemma, I’m also studying God’s word and watching a show about the birth of Jesus.  It centers around the announcement by the Heavenly Host and it’s affect on the shepherds keeping watch over their sheep.  One shepherd has a lame foot and has been turned away from sacrificing his lamb for his sins because he has not brought a perfect lamb. This got me to thinking!
 
      I’m a retired teacher who had the honor and privilege to work with severely disabled children.  I also got to know many parents.  What I can contribute to the argument of human value is… there is no bar.  There is no perfection.  As the article I read by Susan Berry, Ph.D quoted;
 
     “There are no perfect human beings.”-Abby Johnson, founder of “And Then There Were None”. 
 

     Romans in the New Testament also informs us, 

”even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;“ ‭‭Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
 
     There was one perfect Man that came as a supreme sacrifice, and that was Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  The perfect Lamb.  We are not perfect.  I can write story after story of the differences in children with and without disabilities.  But there is one common thread.  We all need redemption and forgiveness of our sins.  Some people think children with disabilities are angels come to teach us, others find them the most imperfect of all.  I remind you and myself, God gives breath to every human being.  Abby Johnson also stated, “All humans are made in God’s image; each is unrepeatable and unique.  We all have inherent dignity because of this.  Deciding a human being is worth less because they have a disability or have a terminal illness is eugenics by nature.”
     
     While at first I empathized with Kate Cox I have now come to know and own, her decision to abort is against God’s plan for us.  There is no conclusive evidence that she would be infertile if she carried the baby and had a C section.  There is no guarantee her next child will be healthy and most certainly not “perfect”.  I think she may regret not holding and loving her first born child, regardless of a shortened life.  We all live day to day not knowing when our last day will come, our last breath.
 
     “To fall within the medical exception,” Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton noted, 

the physician must determine “in the exercise of reasonable medical judgment, the pregnant female on whom the abortion is performed, induced, or attempted has a life-threatening physical condition aggravated by, caused by, or arising from a pregnancy that places the female at risk of death or poses a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function unless the abortion is performed or induced.”

   **Please note that eugenics is a study of how to increase desirable characteristics by manipulating reproduction within a human population.  Nazi’s adopted this doctrine but it has been discredited as unscientific and racially based.

 
””But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you; And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you. “Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you; And let the fish of the sea declare to you. “Who among all these does not know That the hand of the Lord has done this, In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?“ ‭‭Job‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬-‭10‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
 
Amen

Trisomy 18

Mari, 4 years Trisomy 18

Kameron, 24 Years Trisomy 18