🇺🇸 patriot 🇺🇸

During my second pregnancy, because I was high risk due to age and various other factors, the doctors offered to do an amniocentesis. This is where they insert a needle into the amniotic sac and collect fluid that they can assess for various chromosomal disorders. It is an elective test that comes with its own risks. To assess the risk/reward of getting the amniocentesis done, my husband, who is very pragmatic and a man of few words, asked the doctor if knowing the test results would change anything — that is to say, he wondered if there was anything that could be done during pregnancy to improve the health of the baby. The doctor said it would not change anything “BUT … it could help you make … other decisions.” The implication was clear — he was essentially saying it would give us the opportunity to know and choose abortion. My husband is very deferential to my decision making; I’m more inclined to want things a certain way, he’s more inclined to be flexible and adjust to my preferences. Without so much as looking at me, he answered the doctor on my behalf: “No, we don’t need the test.” I can’t overstate my attraction to him in that moment. In one sentence he conveyed 1) his absolute understanding of exactly where I would stand on the issue, 2) his commitment to the life we created, and 3) his unfailing ability to meet any challenge stoically and head on. I thank God we have a healthy son. I would thank God for him, as well, if he was born with or at some point develops health issues. A large part of your experience in life is how you react to things. Feeling initial heartbreak at news of Trisomy 21 is understandable. Terminating your baby because of it is not.