Treating the Tiniest (pro-life issue benefits from advances in fetal surgery)

NEWSWEEK ^ | June 9 issue | Claudia Kalb

[Liz]

Dramatic advances in fetal medicine—especially in utero surgery—have changed what we know and how we think about the unborn

Samuel Armas, a chattering, brown-eyed 3-year-old, has no idea what “fetus” means. Nor does he realize that he was one of the most celebrated in medical history.

At a mere 21 weeks of gestational age—long before it was time to leave his mother’s womb—Samuel underwent a bold and experimental surgical procedure to close a hole at the bottom of his spinal cord, the telltale characteristic of myelomeningocele, or spina bifida. Samuel’s parents, Julie and Alex, could have terminated Julie’s pregnancy at 15 weeks when they learned about their son’s condition, which can result in lifelong physical and mental disabilities.

But the Armases do not believe in abortion. Instead, in August 1999, they drove 250 miles from their home in Villa Rica, Ga., to Nashville, Tenn., where Dr. Joseph Bruner, of Vanderbilt University, performed a surgery bordering on the fantastical.

Bruner cut into Julie’s abdomen, lifted her balloonlike uterus out of her body, made an incision in the taut muscle, removed the fetus, sewed up the spinal defect and tucked him back inside.

Fifteen weeks later Samuel Armas “came out screaming,” says Julie.

--SNIP--

[Gophack]

You beat me to it. Great article.

[Akron Al]

bump

[Liz]

Good news for pro-lifers.

[cgk]

I read a comment here on FR recently about someone who was told their pre-born baby had Down's Syndrome and I believe, termination was recommended. They didn't do it, and the baby was delivered - WITHOUT DS.

[jocon307]

"[T]he baby was delivered - WITHOUT D[owns] S[yndrome]."

Yes, I have heard many similar stories. The looney left continues, every day in every way, to try and erect a false perfection on this fallen earth. The elimination of the handicapped is part of this goal. In this they closely resemble the Nazis.

But why I really replied to your post was to say Great Tagline!

[Liz]

Yup.....heard this has happened many times.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Samuel Amas, at 31/2, outside his home.

[hope]

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inherent and inalienable rights; that among these, are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness." --Declaration of Independence as originally written by Thomas Jefferson, 1776. ME 1:29, Papers 1:315

Is a "fetus" a human? Seems it's Creator thinks so.

[hope]

The Poll...

What legal rights should fetuses have? * 2807 responses The same rights accorded children and adults 72% The same rights, but only after they are viable outside the womb 16% None until they're born 12%

[Syncro]

[Liz]

That makes it official.

[Mr. Silverback]

ProLife Ping!

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[Prolifeconservative]

I've been waiting for a thread on this absolutley awesome article. When I saw this on Drudge earlier today, I was ecstatic - this is so great for the Pro-Life campaign. And to have that awesome picture grace the cover of Newsweek is just about as good as it gets. It's about time this country starts to think "LIFE" once again.