The mother-child bond is unparalleled. When faced with a crucial decision about her pregnancy, this young mother wasted no time in making her choice.
Continue reading to discover this inspiring narrative…
Every mother’s primary concern is ensuring a smooth pregnancy and the safety of her child. During her pregnancy, this young mother received news from her doctor that didn’t alter her feelings towards her unborn baby.
She learned that her fetus had Down syndrome, and naturally, the doctors recommended terminating the pregnancy. Instead, she chose to carry the baby to full term. Years later, she penned a heartfelt letter to the doctor, recounting her journey as a mother to a child with Down syndrome.
Mothers always strive for the best for their children. Courtney Williams Baker is the mother of Emersyn, a little girl with Down syndrome. During her routine prenatal checkups, doctors informed her that her child had Down syndrome. She and her husband were advised to consider terminating the pregnancy, but they firmly declined.
In 2016, when little Emersyn was two years old, Courtney wrote a poignant letter to her doctor. She began by sharing a friend’s story, one whose prenatal specialist had consistently described her child as “perfect” during sonograms. When her friend’s son was born with Down syndrome, that same doctor reiterated, “I told you. He’s perfect.” Courtney was deeply moved by this story. While grateful for her friend’s experience, it brought her immense sadness because of what she felt she should have experienced.
She went on to express her hurt and wished her doctor had shown her the same compassion her friend received during her Down syndrome pregnancy.
“I wish you would have been that doctor. I came to you during the most difficult time in my life, I was terrified, anxious, and in complete despair. I didn’t know the truth yet about my baby, and that’s what I desperately needed from you. But instead of support and encouragement, you suggested we terminate our child. I told you her name, and you asked us again if we understood how low our quality of life would be with a child with Down syndrome. You suggested we reconsider our decision to continue the pregnancy.”
Courtney went on to describe how her appointments with the doctor became dreaded after that initial encounter. She wrote, “From that first visit, we dreaded our appointments,” and added, “The most difficult time in my life was made nearly unbearable because you never told me the truth. My child was perfect.”
She continued to talk about how Emersyn had breathed new life into her existence. Courtney expressed, “You see, Emersyn has not only added to our quality of life, but she’s also touched the hearts of thousands. She’s given us a purpose and a joy that is impossible to express, and she’s given us bigger smiles, more laughter, and sweeter kisses than we’ve ever known. She’s opened our eyes to true beauty and pure love.”
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