Question for Pro-Lifers (What Would you do in this case ?)

[SirLinksalot]

After several months in this forum, I have never posted a vanity post before and this will be my first time, but I am posting this to find out whether anyone can help me find some moral direction on a life choice dilemma which is not different from the Terry Schiavo case...

I have a friend in Texas who was taking high blood medicine not knowing she was pregnant.

Very early in the pregnancy they took tests and were told that their baby will practically have no brain but being devout christians, they decided to go thru anyway.

Last week their baby was born and as predicted, without a brain but somehow she's breathing and "alive".

Now the parents are having second thoughts and just waiting for her to stop breathing and die.

What would be the most moral thing to do in this situation ?

Thanks for your feedback.

[Congressman Billybob]

They made the wrong decision at the beginning. My wife and I went on a cruise in the Caribbean. She received an insect bite in Haiti. When we returned she became seriously ill, from an unknown cause.

After a week in the hospital, and major diagnoses including extensive X-rays, she was diagnosed with infectious hepatitis. That was successfully treated with very strong drugs. After all that, we found out that we were pregnant.

Our obstetrician, who was also a lifelong friend, advised us that any of the three situations -- the hepatitis, the X-rays, and the treatment drugs -- would probably have fatally damaged the fetus. With all three present, he advised us to have a therapeutic abortion.

We discussed it, prayed over it, and decided to follow his advice. The fetus was abnormal.

Years later, we had a healthy boy, who is 28 now.

Such situations are rare, but it sounds to me like the couple received the correct advice from their doctors, and chose not to follow it.

John / Billybob

[John Lenin]

Pull the plug on the machines and let nature take it's course.

[AppyPappy]

were told that their baby will practically have no brain

Problem. What if the doctors are wrong?

[nina0113]

Pray for the family, baptize the child, and wait for nature to take its course. I can't think of a kind way to suggest to the family that when the time comes, organ donation would be appropriate, but I'm sure whatever hospital they're dealing with has.

I hope you're not suggesting the child should be euthanized to relieve the parents' suffering.

[Pure Country]

God just requires this young couple to nurture and love the baby until God Himself sees fit to take the child home. This baby is a precious gift from God.

[TXBubba]

I have friends whose first daughter was also born without a brain. They took her home in July and she died in October the year she was born. And yes, they knew ahead of time that she would be born without a brain. As far as I know they took care of her physical needs as much as possible but they did not hook her up to machines though as that would have been unrealistic. Letting someone die naturally and starving them to death intentionally are totally different decisions.

On another note: my grandmother was in a coma for three months. We fed her via a tube in her mouth. We did not insert a feeding tube in her stomach. She died without any help from us.

[countorlock]

There is a relationship between morality and faith. It is possible to do the "right" thing but do it without faith and the bible says "anything not of faith is sin". Therefore a sinner can't do anything right. On the other end of the spectrum, God honors faith even if it is misguided. If they act in faith, that is the most moral thing to do irrespective of the decision they may come to in this sad situation. By the way, God knows how awful this situation is for them and He is very merciful.

[mnehring]

I believe your situation really gets to the point on why the abortion debate is so difficult for many. IMHO, the baby, be it born or unborn, is an individual, with unique DNA (and thus legally, not the 'Mother's Body' as is often argued) and should be afforded rights thusly.

However, because of the culture of abortion for convenience, with chop shops everywhere, the debate is either all or nothing and often medical decisions are left by the wayside.

[silverleaf]

Sorry bad link to Santorum book "Letters to Gabriel" posted above

http://www.catholiccompany.com/product_detail.cfm?ID=823

[HamiltonJay]

Love and care for this child until the day it stops breathing... Doctors and nurses will tell you stupid things like don't be attached, don't take them home... Don't believe it. For whatever reason this child exists, and is no less deserving of a parents love than anyone else.

God has a reason and plan for all of us, we all serve a purpose even if we cannot understand what that is. Do their best to care for this child, provide it all the caring and comfort that they can, and when sadly the day comes when it does no longer breath... bury it with full respect and thank God for letting you be part of its life.

It won't be easy, it may not seem fair, but it is the only moral path to follow, anything less would be dispicable.

[Al Gator]

Is this a for real story, or are you fishing for hypocrits?

Pardon the suspicion, but a lot of abortionists just love posing hypothetical moral dilemas to those fanatic pro-lifers, just to see how they react.

If you are for real, ok.

If not, IBTZ

[ARCADIA]

Sympathize and support the parents no matter what they decide to do. Offer help and respite to them if you can. And guard them against unwanted meddling into their business by activists of any kind.

Well said and worth repeating. It is a tragic situation, lets not compound it with guilt, blame, and extra stress.

[MeanWestTexan]

I cannot give better advice than Post No. 4.

I would note that most Orthodox Jews take the position that there is a distinction to be made between someone who breathes on their own and simply needs food VS. someone who is breathing only with the aid of a repirator.

May God be with you.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

without a brain? Is this possible?

[TravisBickle]

I would also tell your friend that it is only our life on earth that is short. Life with God is eternal, and they will be with their child again.

A family friend of ours lost twin girls a little over a year ago. They each lived only a few hours. Their whole lives lasted just one day, and I told her that they will always be a reminder that each single day we have is special. And about a month ago, that same woman gave birth to a healthy baby girl. So, it is indeed sad and worthy of our grief when we lose someone, but there is also joy that God allowed us to know that person. If only what seems to be a short time.

[mnehring]

Is this a for real story, or are you fishing for hypocrites?

SirLinksalot has demonstrated his sincerity here for a while. I doubt this is a troll type post and this is prompting a good conversation.

[ExcursionGuy84]

True, CondorFlight.

Yet, if it is true that this baby girl is breathing on her own, then there porbably is a stronger-than-natural possibilty that her life may be prolonged by ADONAI's Hand.

But, if other portions of her body require (as you graciously implied) artificial life support to ensure ANY hope of her living...

...then, I do not object to discontinuation of machine support.

I will always trust in My Savior that, in HIS Kingdom, the girl will be so radiantly beautiful and alive and free from corruption.

[ExcursionGuy84]

"With GOD, ALL things are possible."

[Rockitz]

I had a friend who found out the same thing about one of the two children she was carrying (twins). I think it's called ancephalitis (just the brainstem is there)? She carried the child through to birth. The pastor of their church and his wife had a similar child years earlier. The pastor's wife never had a chance to hold her baby, but she was able to hold my friend's child- God's perfect closure for this woman. The baby died within 5 days. God will take care of this apparent dilemma and they may not know why this happened for years.

Prayers for peace for this couple.

[loveliberty2]

Pray for wisdom;
- love without reservation--both the child and each other;
- receive with gratitude the love and support of family and friends;
- look for the signs that this child's brief life has had purpose and meaning which many who live to advanced age may not accomplish in their long lifetimes;
- and, finally, look forward to that certain day when you will reunite with the soul housed within that incomplete little human body.