What is a Life Worth?
Please take a look at this you-Tube video. It will remind you that every human life is precious and that we can see this truth most clearly through the face of a helpless, innocent baby who can do nothing for us but allow us the opportunity to give ourselves to him in love. It teaches that joy comes through giving oneself to another for their own sake and that authentic joy can be experienced in the midst of difficulties and evenamidst tremendous sorrow. Mostly, it will reveal the heroic courage and life affirming witness that is possible for those open to and animated by the life of the Holy Spirit. Take a look but make sure you have your Kleenex ready:
Update: As requested by one of our commenters, this is the testimony of a young couple about their Trisonomy 18 baby.
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This one always makes me weep buckets. I love the transformation already by day 1. They had been “praying for a miracle”, but when Eliot is born with trisomy 18, they don’t feel their miracle was denied – instead, they are grateful for him, the miracle of his life, with or without trisomy 18. So beautiful.
Comment by monica — May 9, 2007 @ 9:28 AM
I was wondering if you could do me a favor and let others know that this is about a Trisomy 18 baby. Our baby was just diagnosed with it 2 months ago, I am currently 4 months pregnant and I didn’t know that this video was going to be about a family dealing with it. It was a real shock to my system watching it. I hate that this is something I have to look forward to.
Comment by Mrs. T — May 9, 2007 @ 4:09 PM
Mrs. T – I am so sorry to hear about your baby’s diagnosis and how this post has affected you. I would recommend that you might visit Monica’s (the commenter above you) website at http://www.benotafraid.net which you may find helpful in the time ahead. Under her Community section you will find a specific group of families dealing with a Trisonomy 18 baby.
Comment by David — May 9, 2007 @ 7:40 PM
Thank you.
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Comment by Mrs. T — May 9, 2007 @ 10:33 PM
This video literally knocked me down.
I highly recommend it for anyone considering an abortion and for anyone who may have had one but has yet to come to grips with the true magnitude of the deed.
Comment by StubbleSpark — May 10, 2007 @ 12:40 AM
Mrs T, I’m sorry you are suffering at this time. I would be happy to add you to our prayer support list with other parents who have received “bad news” about baby. You are more than welcome to email me, okay?
If you begin to feel as though talking with others would help you (if you haven’t already), there is a now a lot of life-affirming support for you out there. There is my site, which David already mentioned. In addition, you may want to check out http://hopefortrisomy13and18.org/, which is brand new, and http://www.prenatalpartnersforlife.org, which is just over a year old.
Comment by monica — May 10, 2007 @ 11:20 AM
Mrs. T…sending prayers of support, compassion and the hope of Christ your way.
Comment by Margie — May 10, 2007 @ 5:50 PM
Thanks you everyone. It means a lot to me that others are concerned. It is a hard time. This video really took the wind out of my sails and brought me back down to earth. I have looked at those sites and found many of these children having fairly “normal” looking hands, feet and head. I was under the impression that this problem would severely disfigure the child. My child looks pretty normal in the ultrasound which was the reason why I had so much hope. An amnio looks like the only way to know for sure. The question is “can I handle it”?
The answer is “I don’t know.”
So there will be no amnio until I think I can handle the news.
I have 7 children already, and if I can’t handle it, then all my children will suffer as Mom learns to deal with it. If I can spare them a few months of hardship, then I think that would be best.
Its a hard thing to figure out.
Comment by Mrs. T — May 10, 2007 @ 9:22 PM
Mrs. T -
You have in addition to our concern, my prayers for the health of your baby and for your and your family’s strength. I know that you already know this but sometimes it helps to be reaffirmed; God will give you the strength you need.
God Bless
Comment by David — May 10, 2007 @ 9:29 PM