March for Life Is Grateful for the Protecting Life in Global Health Policy

 

“Trisomy 18, also known as Edwards Syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 18th chromosome. The majority of people with the syndrome die during the fetal stage; infants who survive experience serious defects and live for extremely short periods of time. This is associated with a broad spectrum of abnormalities which consist of greater than 130 discrete defects involving the brain, heart, craniofacial structures, kidneys, and stomach. Edwards Syndrome has no treatment and is usually fatal before birth or within the first year of life.”

I read these words as I waited in the maternal-fetal office. At just 23 years old, and 20 weeks pregnant, I had been referred to get a more in-depth ultrasound when my sonographer couldn’t see all of my daughter’s heart and noticed choroid plexus cysts on the brain. As I sat there, I googled “choroid plexus cysts.” Google always knows, right? These often were not indicators of anything, but at times were a soft marker for Trisomy 18. For some reason, this resonated with my heart. A genetic condition that I knew absolutely nothing about 10 minutes prior. The next several hours felt like a nightmare. I went back into the imaging room as the new sonographer scanned over my belly. She did this for two hours. She didn’t say a word. Finally, the doctor came in and asked if we had any idea what was going on. I said no.

He proceeded to say, “Basically, everything is wrong with this child. There are cysts on the brain, the fetus is missing half of its heart. There is a hypoplastic left ventricle. Clenched fists. The fetus is about 4 weeks behind on growth already and has severe intrauterine growth restriction. I see a cleft palate.” He paused for what felt like an eternity and then said, “Oh, and there are two clubbed feet. And it’s a girl.”

The doctor said I needed an amniocentesis to confirm, and that if it was indeed Trisomy 18, as he believed, I couldn’t continue my pregnancy. “She is incompatible with life. She won’t survive. I don’t think you understand how serious this is.”

We went forward with the amino, after a false preliminary result came back claiming Evelyn had Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21), we received a phone call a week later saying the lab director had made a mistake. Evelyn had Trisomy 18, not Trisomy 21. The doctor proceeded to say, “I spoke with your OBGYN already, and he told me that you will be terminating. He has that scheduled for you.” I couldn’t believe what I heard. Not only had I made it clear that was not an option, the doctor’s name spoken was one I had never heard before. I had no idea he was even a part of this practice. I instantly told the doctor I wouldn’t be doing that. Again, he said, “I don’t think you understand this. She is incompatible with life. This is fatal. She will not survive.”

I was immediately dropped from the practice after calling through screams and sobs to ask where in the world that information came from and that I would continue my pregnancy. I went 5 weeks without a provider. Tragically, it was a thousand times easier to schedule an abortion for my child than it was to find proper care for myself and my pregnancy.

Finally, I found a practice. And my Evelyn Grace continued to live. I knew inside my womb was the safest place for Evelyn to be. I lived my pregnancy knowing simply that I was not the one that created my daughter’s heartbeat and I didn’t have the authority to decide when it ended. Although Evelyn existed inside of my womb during this time, her story and her life were uniquely her own. I was simply given the beautiful gift of stewarding that. And so Evelyn stayed put. And she grew. She made it to 39 weeks when I was induced, giving my team the order that Evelyn would receive full intervention after birth, just like any other critical newborn would.

Evelyn spent several weeks in Intensive Care before we went home. I spent this time and the time during my pregnancy learning and equipping myself to be the best mom and advocate for Evelyn.  I learned that a Trisomy condition, having three copies of any specific chromosome, is not a death sentence. Yes, there can be many health concerns that may come as a result of the third chromosome, but when these concerns are treated, these children will thrive.

I saw the strength and resilience of mothers ahead of me and their children in the Trisomy 21, 18, and 13 community. Through life in and out of the hospital, adapting to the medical equipment, and learning all about Evelyn’s care, my family and I have experienced more joy and love than we knew possible. I wish I could go back to myself that day in the office and say, “You have no idea what joy is ahead. Yes, this will be hard. And there will be valleys of despair and moments where this all seems too much. But you will see strength and love in yourself and in Evelyn that you didn’t know existed. The view you are about to have will take your breath away. Just keep going.”

The only tragedy here would be never meeting Evelyn. All of our days are limited. Not just a child with a chronic illness. None of us are promised tomorrow. I remind myself daily that on my best day or worst day caring for Evelyn, I never have the power to add or subtract a day from her life.

Only the author of life does. That frees me up to just be Evelyn’s mom. I don’t worry about her days ahead. I pray for wisdom for myself and her medical providers and leave the rest to God. I look forward to each day ahead with joy. Evelyn has truly changed our hearts from the inside out. Evelyn is now 2 ½ years old. She is a big sister to Esme, and a blessing to all she comes across. She daily changes the mind and hearts of those in the medical field we come across, and she is paving the way for others just like her. I will always choose life. I will always stand in the gap for those who are marginalized. Each life, no matter how long or short is precious and sacred. Every life has a purpose.

 

 

 

— Hannah Sudlow is first and foremost a Christ Follower, wife to Craig, and mom to Evelyn and Esme. She is also the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Evelyn’s Treehouse, inspired by her daughter, Evelyn. Their mission is to come alongside new families in the hospital who have received a life-changing medical diagnosis for their child by offering support and resources. Their goal is to help empower and equip parents to confidently live out their new role of caring for their medically complex child. Hannah is an advocate for the special needs community and those who are marginalized in their health care. Ultimately, Hannah shares Evelyn’s story to encourage others to see the value and sanctity in each and every life and help normalize special needs.

 

January 22nd: Roe turns 46 years old and New York jubilantly celebrates the passage of a new radical late-term abortion bill aimed at “codifying Roe”.

January 29th: A video goes viral of Virginia Delegate Kathy Tran defending a bill that would allow abortion even after a woman goes into labor.

January 30th: Governor Ralph Northam of Virginia suggests support for infanticide of a baby who survives an abortion on live radio. (He has yet to retract his comments.)

February 25th: 44 Senate Democrats vote against providing medical care for newborn babies who survive abortions – in other words, infanticide. (Thankfully, 50 Republicans and 3 Democrats voted in favor of the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, but the legislation needed 60 votes to advance in the Senate.)

 

There is only one way to describe these events: abortion extremism.

 

Most Americans picked their jaw off the floor in disbelief when each of these events made headlines. However, the truth of the matter is that abortion extremism exists across the country.  For example, only 7 countries in the world allow abortion past 5 months gestation, including North Korea, China, and the United States, and 8 states (plus D.C.) allow abortion until birth.

I get it; this is disheartening. But let me share the good news and practical action steps you can take to make a difference in 2019.

America is waking up

The good news is that a large majority of Americans do not support the radical bills proposed in Virginia and New York. What many people didn’t realize is that these bills are championed by pro-abortion lobby groups, most notably NARAL and Planned Parenthood.

Recent displays of radicalism woke Americans up to what the pro-choice lobby is all about. For the first time in 10 years, Marist polling showed a tie between pro-choice and pro-life self-identifying Americans in February.

Amazing!

Democrats last month: 20% identify as pro-life vs. 75% as pro-choice.

Democrats this month: 34% identify as pro-life vs. 61% as pro-choice. @KofC @axios https://t.co/b95F1KRCos

— March for Life (@March_for_Life) February 25, 2019

Time will tell if the shift remains, but the lesson to be learned here is this: when pro-choice Americans wake up to the radicalism of pro-choice politicians, they are willing to rethink their position. This should give the pro-life movement encouragement.

>>>> Recent Gallup Survey on Abortion Offers Hope to Pro-Lifers

Now that the news cycle has moved on, what can you do to keep the momentum going?

Get educated

First, educate yourself and others. There are tons of great pro-life educational resources at your fingertips.

To list just a few sources:

• Charlotte Lozier Institute
• Live Action
• Americans United For Life
• March for Life (check out our recent blogs and stay tuned for more content!)

These groups will help you answer tough questions about abortion and provide excellent materials to share with your on-the-fence or pro-choice friends.  With these resources, you can confidently answer why you are pro-life. (If you didn’t see your go-to pro-life education organization, leave the name and link in the comments!)

Get active

Second, take action in your community. Making abortion not just illegal, but unthinkable, is a mighty task. While not all of us are supposed to run for office or direct a pregnancy resource clinic, we all have an unrepeatable role to play.

Start by choosing one way to get active in the pro-life community this year. That’s it. Just one.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Sign up to pray outside of an abortion clinic with 40 Days for Life.
2. Donate to your local pregnancy resource clinic. (Find a clinic here: care-net.org)
3. Petition your legislatures on specific pro-life legislation with March for Life Action.
4. Attend the March for Life.
5. Start a Students for Life chapter at your school.

When Nellie Gray began the March for Life in 1974, she could never have dreamed that it would become the largest annual human rights demonstration in the world. Likewise, it is impossible for us to know the difference our little “yes” can make in defending the lives of the most vulnerable among us.

So, let’s get moving – many lives depend on it.