Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler announced Monday that she has given birth to a daughter, despite an earlier diagnosis that the baby was suffering from a normally fatal ailment.
Herrera Beutler, a pro-life Republican from Washington state, said earlier this year that her unborn child was suffering from Potter's Syndrome, a condition involving the improper development of the kidneys during pregnancy. One of the options Herrera Beutler had was to abort the fetus, but she refused.
Baby "Abigail is considered by her doctors to likely be the first baby to survive a diagnosis previously considered fatal," the congresswoman's office said in a statement.
The child is currently stable, but required immediate dialysis due to a lack of functioning kidneys.
Herrera Beutler was aided by a team of specialized physicians at The John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and delivered the baby girl on July 15 at Emanuel Legacy Hospital in Portland, Ore.
"The options we were offered were termination or 'expectant management,' that is, waiting for [the baby] to die. Instead, we chose to pray earnestly for a miracle," the congresswoman and her husband said in a statement. "She is every bit a miracle."
On June 3, the Herrera Beutler announced on her Facebook page that "at a recent, routine ultrasound appointment we received the difficult news that our baby has a serious medical condition. ... We don't know what the future holds for our family."
The congresswoman herself "is doing well, caring for her precious little daughter and recovering," the family said in their statement.
Bravo, Ms. Beutler! You gave Abigal a chance to make her own CHOICE! Too bad so many would have supported denying her that opportunity.
And how many other children have been killed based on just this sort of maybe?
h/t Weasel Zippers
Excellent point, but I can't help but wonder what the specialists cost, and whether Jane Q. Public would have the same options... medicine IS becoming all about who has the $$ to pay...
ReplyDeleteAnd it will become more so, and our mortality rates will rise. And, ironically, as we fall into the black hole that is socialized medical care, the rich may begin going to other countries who have begun pulling away from socialized medicine and improving their services after experiencing its failure.
DeleteI was going to say the same things, but you & NFO covered it.
ReplyDelete"Do I hear an 'Amen!'"? :-)
DeleteAmen
ReplyDelete