Julie Muhlstein’s Oct. 27 column brought tears to my eyes. I too have experienced the pain of possibly having to face an abortion. Last year, during my 29th week of pregnancy, our son was diagnosed with a rare, often fatal brain disorder. My husband and I were numb. It was the darkest time that we have ever experienced in our lives. Like Julie, we thought that this kind of thing always happened to other people.
We were then sent to the University of Washington. The care we received there was exceptional. After being provided with information on late-term abortions, we prayed, talked, prayed some more and decided to simply wait. After further work-up at the UW the prognosis was upgraded and we took a deep breath. We readied ourselves, our families and our other child for what was to come. We agonized over our decision. Were we being selfish by bringing a child into the world who would have a lifetime of problems, surgeries and a still unknown outcome? All that we did know was that we loved this little guy sight unseen and prayed for the best for him.
Sam was born on Aug. 28 (right on time!) and was beautiful! That night the radiology staff came into our room and did a post-birth ultrasound of Sam’s brain. I’ll never forget the doctor’s words – normal.
A little more than a year later, Sam is doing just great. My husband and I sometimes shudder when we think back to the time that abortion was discussed. All of the what-ifs and a potentially very different outcome make us almost nauseated. We feel blessed to live in a country that offers us so many rights and opportunities. But for us, abortion wasn’t the right option and each day we need only look at our little boy to know that we made the right decision. Thanks, Julie, for illustrating this very gray area in the lives of many people, such as ourselves.
Terri Fowble
Everett
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