What would you do if you found out that the child you’re carrying only had a few days to live after birth? An American couple found themselves having to answer this difficult question and they made the decision to carry their terminally ill baby to term and donate her organs, to help others. Thousands all over the world were inspired when their touching story went viral on Facebook, earning over 21,000 shares.
In an interview on Good Morning America, Royce and Keri Young opened up about their decision, explaining that, despite their daughter’s anticipated short life, she will be able to do more than they ever will.
“We’re going to focus on donating her organs and we’re going to be her parents,” said Royce Young, adding that some feeling of relief came after they made this decision. “I think that that kind of lifted a weight off of our shoulders. And that’s when … I think we did kind of start to feel happiness.”
According to Keri, the doctors said their baby could live “anywhere from five minutes to 36 hours” after birth. Despite this, they plan to do their jobs as her “momma and daddy.”
They found out about their baby’s condition 19 weeks into the pregnancy, after an ultrasound confirmed it.
“The ultrasound tech came in and said, ‘Your doctor wants to see you immediately,'” the expectant mom told ABC News. “I mean, she just literally opened the door and said, ‘I’m really sorry to have to tell you this, but your baby doesn’t have a brain.’
They found out that their unborn baby suffered from anencephaly, which happens when an essential part of a baby’s brain is missing. In their case, their baby’s brain cortex didn’t develop.
“We both totally lost it,” she recalled, lamenting how “very dark, heavy and testing” the first 47 hours were after they got the tragic news. There were even times that they questioned God, disappointed that the healthy pregnancy they were expecting was not to be.
“We look forward to holding her, kissing her, talking to her, telling her about her brother,” said Royce. “And to think that that might have to be done in five minutes is really hard.”
They also shared a pact they made about being open to one another, even about the difficult things, which helped them get through the tough time.
Despite her condition, they shared that their baby seems to be developing like a healthy baby, even kicking or getting the hiccups.
Though they were advised to terminate the pregnancy, they decided to see it through, wanting to go with the option which they felt they would regret the least.
“We look forward to holding her, kissing her, talking to her, telling her about her brother,” said Royce. “And to think that that might have to be done in five minutes is really hard.”
Keri admits she’s “terrified” of giving birth, fearing that she won’t come out alive.
“She’s healthy right now, and I love feeling her kick, and that, that was surprising. It was. It was very surprising,” she added. “She’s as perfect as she’s going to be right now. So I don’t want to give that up. Now is not the time to be sad. I keep telling people we have a whole lifetime to be sad, after she’s born and after she passes, then that’s sad. But now, she’s alive and she’s kicked and … for this pregnancy, that’s the most joyful part.”
READ: The family of a dying baby is fulfilling all the wishes on her bucket list
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