If someone tells you that your baby will die at birth, would you terminate the pregnancy or continue with it? While this choice is not available to all, many would choose to terminate the pregnancy to deal with the heartbreak right then and there, and to ensure that the baby wouldn’t suffer at all.
But others choose to proceed with the pregnancy, mostly because they are hopeful that the baby will defy the odds and survive. Others do it for nobler reasons, however, such as to donate the child’s healthy organs to those in need.
This is what happened to Royce and Keri Young of Oklahoma, US. The two were excited to have another baby, their second child; but the ultrasound scan at 19 weeks showed that the baby has anencephaly.
Doctors told them that the child isn’t likely to survive more than a few minutes; they had the option to terminate the pregnancy.
Photo credit: Keri Young / Facebook
The Youngs were devastated but after learning that the baby had healthy organs despite having an undeveloped brain, they decided to proceed with the pregnancy. Even with the heartache of carrying the pregnancy to full term, knowing the baby would die at birth, Keri willingly did so to ensure that the child’s organs will give life to others in need.
“She has perfect feet and perfect hands. She has perfect kidneys, perfect lungs and a perfect liver. Sadly, she doesn’t have a perfect brain,” Keri wrote.
The noble gesture went viral on social media, with thousands of people praying for the family and wishing them blessings, especially a healthy baby in the near future.
Throughout the pregnancy, Keri posted updates of the baby whom they named Eva Grace after learning her gender. It was heartbreaking to read all those updates, knowing what would happen when she’s finally born.
On April 17, 2017, Keri gave birth to baby Eva. They got to hold her and take some photos. Sadly, as the doctors had estimated, she didn’t live long.
Keri promised to update their followers about what happened next – and everyone was definitely expecting to hear whether Eva’s organs were able to give life to some patients who needed them.
Rest in peace, little angel.