Mom Refuses Abortion When Told Her Son Would Have Down Syndrome: “He’s a Gift From God”
A mother, who was offered an abortion after tests suggested her unborn child had Down’s syndrome, is launching a non-profit organization dedicated to serving families of children with special needs.
Marsha Weigum was told there was a 99% chance her child would be born with Down’s syndrome and while her immediate response was to ask what that meant for her child’s prenatal care, her doctor’s response was. is “You can terminate if you choose”.
For Marsha, termination was not an option, despite her doctor’s list of aspects of raising her son that might be difficult, such as him being a slow learner or dependent on family. “[T]he minute she said termination, I don’t think I want to hear much more”, he said. “These children are wonderful, they are innocent children, and now I am here myself”.
Marsha has made it her mission to help other families in similar situations.
“I was angry at the determination,” he said. “It’s this kind of determination … that I’m going to make a difference,” he said continue.
Marsha explained that she wanted to do something to help mothers in the same situation as her.
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“I want the next woman who comes through here to have something they can refer to…”.
Marsha found that in her home state of Colorado most of the resources and organizations that could help her during her pregnancy were available in big cities like Denver, but not in smaller communities like where she lived.
Because of this, Marsha started Our Voice for the Voiceless. She plans to formally launch the organization and its services in October 2024, with the goal of offering informational materials, courses, counseling, events and a community for parents of children with special needs. need. However, Marsha has been active since the organization’s inception in 2021, and has been reaching out and educating parents through online communities and local events.
Weigum reported that many of her online community’s followers spoke of pressure from doctors or family members to abort their children. He shared that some parents experienced the destruction of their family.
“I will show them that it is possible”, he said. “I will show them that there is hope, and we will show them that there is a future”.
“A family brings so much joy, love and peace, a child who is different”
Marsha’s son, Nathan, is now 5 years old, born without any of the heart defects her doctor identified as risks during their first conversation. He recognized that the impact of the first conversations can be significant: “I think where it starts is the first information that is given with the news of the diagnosis. The picture is painted so ugly”.
“I know better”, Weigum said in an interview for KMTS radio in May. “And so it’s not okay for me to know better if there is so much joy, love and peace that a family brings, a child that is different, and for me to remain silent”.
Abortion on the grounds of disability is legal throughout all nine months of pregnancy in every part of the UK.
The Abortion Act 1967 gives a number of yard where abortion is legal. Regarding disability-selective abortion, Section 1(1)(d) of the Act states that abortion is legal when:
“There is a significant risk that if the child is born it will suffer from physical or mental abnormalities as a serious disability.”
The phrase “seriously disabled” is defined very broadly, and in practice, it is interpreted by doctors to include conditions such as Down’s syndrome, cleft lip/cleft palate or club foot.
In 2021, there were 859 abortions in which the baby was prenatally diagnosed with Down’s syndrome.
Right to Life UK spokesperson, Catherine Robinson, said, “Every human life is important regardless of age, location or disability. Organizations like Our Voice for the Voiceless can provide vital support for families who may feel of abortion pressure”.
LifeNews Note: Republished with permission from Right to Life UK.
