Bonnie's Story
I was 25 at the time and my boyfriend was 29. We had been dating for a year and I was actully getting ready to move out of the apartment together, when I found out I was pregnant. My first thought was "what am I going to do?" But My boyfriend was overjoyed. Abortion was never really an option for me, but the thought did go through my head. I was raised in a strict Catholic family and I knew my parents would be disappointed since I wasn't married or even engaged yet and I was planning on leaving my boyfriend. I didn't want kids until I was about 30 and married and stable. My pregnancy was rough, my boyfriend was not very supportive. He loved the idea of of being a dad, but did not want to make any sacrifices in his lifestyle at all. Abortion began to run through my head again, but again, I knew deep down that wasn't an option for me. Once a saw the I saw the ultrasound at 18 weeks I was in love! I don't think the pregnancy was real to me until then. Once I fell in love, my world came crumbling down. The baby I had thought of terminating months earlier, who I had grown to love would possibly be born with birth defects. My ultrasound showed a dark spot on the heart, enlarged kidneys and thikening of the neck was present too, which are characteristics of down syndrome. I was at greater risk because my uncle has downs. They couldn't guarantee me a healthy baby without an amnio, which I refused, because of the miscarriage risk. I was told I could terminate up to 23 weeks if my baby was to be mentally impaired. My boyfriend and I discussed it and decided to hope and pray for the best and not have the amnio and try not to worry the rest of my pregnancy. To make a long a long story short, my son was born on 4/27/01, Shane William, 3 days late, 8 pounds and 20 inches and perfect. He is the light of my life and the center of my universe. There is nothing I wouldn't do for him. I didn't know I could love someone so much. I can't believe the thought of terminating even crossed my mind! I feel so guilty about that, but at least I did the right thing and gave my baby a chance and he is perfect. I am totally pro- life now, unless there is a risk to mom or the baby has no chance at a normal life. It saddens me to think of what these poor babies go through when terminated and makes me want to save each and every one of them!
Bonnie |
