New parents had to defend decision to have baby with same condition as dad

[Jazzy]

Simon Moore was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome and as a result suffered abuse throughout his life.

He’s had to put up with strangers pointing and laughing at him and once, while on holiday, a crowd gathered to take pictures of him.

But perhaps the worst insult of all was when he and wife Vicky were told it was ‘cruel’ not to abort their daughter Alice when it turned out she had the condition.

Treacher Collins Syndrome affects one in 50,000 babies and is characterized by cranial deformities such as the absence of cheekbones.

The couple could have paid for treatment to detect and destroy any embryos carrying the gene, but they decided against it.

Vicky said: ‘We knew there was no guarantee how bad the TC would be, if the baby would have it at all. It could have been as minor as a slight hearing problem, to being born with no face whatsoever. It was 50/50. You go with what medical professionals advise you and they supported us all the way with our decision. Ultimately, we didn’t care if our baby had TC.’

Vicky added: ‘People literally stop dead in their tracks and point at her. Some have even said “ugh” and laughed. I get asked if I’m their carer, and they look shocked when I tell them I’m his wife, and her mum. Some people are blissfully unaware of their own ignorance, while others are just plain nasty. Children are the worst because they just say what they see and don’t realise how mean they can be. One child took one look at Alice and called her a gargoyle.’

But despite the trouble the couple has persevered and love their daughter no matter what.


Source

Do you think it was ‘cruel’ not to abort their daughter when it turned out she had the condition? Why/Why not?

 

[mrldii]

Nope. It is not "cruel" to NOT abort a *less-than-perfect* fetus.

Why not? Because I'm 100% "Pro-Choice" and all that it means.

 

[Mercedes01]

Not cruel at all in saying that I'm not against terminations simply because
other peoples choices are theirs to make not mine.

 

[Jazzy]

Abortion would never have been a choice for me. Why? I would have decided not to get pregnant and take the 50/50 chance that my child would result in a Treacher Collins Syndrome baby. As clearly stated in the article this child is already not accept by an ignorant society. If I wanted a child, I would have opted for adoption.

 

[Sinon]

I wonder how many people who are for keeping this child are the kind of people who are for keeping incest illegal due to its risk of having children born with genetic problems.

OT: Wouldn't have gotten pregnant in the first place, and if I did, yes I would abort. That child will most likely suffer for the rest of her life, physically and mentally. She'll be bullied by other kids and adults alike, and the illness will make a lot of things difficult or painful for her.

Would I really want to put a child through that? Nope.

 

[michonne]

Not cruel at all in saying that I'm not against terminations simply because
other peoples choices are theirs to make not mine.

I agree 100% with this post...to each his own!! Who the fuck are any of us to judge that couple for their decision to have this child??

I would also not be pointing fingers judging them had they decided to adopt or abort....their lives, their decision....not really any of my business to judge them....jmo

 

[mrldii]

I wonder how many people who are for keeping this child are the kind of people who are for keeping incest illegal due to its risk of having children born with genetic problems.

OT: Wouldn't have gotten pregnant in the first place, and if I did, yes I would abort. That child will most likely suffer for the rest of her life, physically and mentally. She'll be bullied by other kids and adults alike, and the illness will make a lot of things difficult or painful for her.

Would I really want to put a child through that? Nope.

My personal choice and my personal decision is this. However, when asked about their choice, I'm still 100% Pro-Choice, meaning I still believe they have the right to make the choice they would most like to, without any interference - positive or negative - from me or others.

runk:

 

[Sinon]

My personal choice and my personal decision is this. However, when asked about their choice, I'm still 100% Pro-Choice, meaning I still believe they have the right to make the choice they would most like to, without any interference - positive or negative - from me or others.

runk:

Sure, it's their choice. If they want to have a child, while knowing the risks they run, it's not my problem.

I just object that some of the people who will praise this couple are the same people who would be against it if the child were created through other means.