I understand your perspective. Even among embryos that do implant, a sizable fraction spontaneously abort with the woman not even aware she was pregnant.. we don't hold women for skipping a period, but not producing a child, as potential "child killers". However, there is a danger that this will cross from screening for a fatal disease to screen for something far more capricious... small height? low intelligence? blue eyes?
On the other hand, my sister went through the heartbreak of having a baby that had brain cancer. She died at 7.5 months, the last 6 weeks of her life spent in intensive care. Could she have been blamed for "pre-screening" if she had had the option? Not an easy choice.
Thank you for your excellent testimony!
Friends of mine gave birth to their first child in November 2004. Despite all the "pre-screening", the child was born with multiple birth defects. The parents were in a financial position to afford treatment. Over the span of 9 months, the child underwent several surgical procedures, rebounded and then relapsed as another problem cropped up. This young couple fought valiantly for the life of their child, and so did their son. In July 2005, following 13 hours of open heart surgery, the team of specialists counseled the young couple. They assured them that every medical procedure known to man had been done on their son but that he was a very sick child and nothing further could be done.
The family's catholic pastor drove 4 hours to administer the Last Rites and be with them in this time of grief. When they were ready, the child was placed in the arms of his mother, life support systems were disconnected and he died peacefully, in her loving embrace.
Life has great meaning. This child's life was short but he contributed so much to the congregation that prayed for him along with his parents. At his funeral, the medical staffs of two hospitals, who had ministered to him in life, ALL showed up. This child had touched the lives of so many, in his short existence.
In July 2006, as the first anniversary of his death approached, the young mother gave birth to a 2nd son. He accompanied his parents to church on that 1st anniversary. The parents promised their first child that he would be forever remembered to his siblings. The same community that prayed for the first child and accompanied the parents on their "Via Dolorosa", joined together again last month, to welcome the 2nd son into the family of God, through the Rite of Baptism.
ALL of us have been touched by the tremendous courage of this young couple. We have reassessed our own priorities of life, drawing strength from their testimony.