[ Post a Response | 22q Deletion Interest Board ]
Posted by cindy
on 3/29/2009, 10:31 pm
66.27.223.218
Hi. I am 26 weeks pregnant with fraternal twins. After amnio, baby b was diagnosed with 22q11.2. Ultrasounds confirm multi-dysplastic kidney and heart defects. For the heart it's either Truncus Arteriosus type 3 or 4 or Tetralogy of Fallot, they aren't sure, but either case would require multiple open heart surgeries. Anyway, I am looking into the possibility of selective reduction (single abortion)of baby b. I know most people would think I'm cold for even considering, but I don't think I can handle losing her after 1, 5 or even 10 years after surgery after surgery and pain. I've read some horror stories of the child being in pain and suffering throughout her short life before dying in childhood. I don't think such a life would be worthwhile for her either. If I was in that position, I would probably have said to my parents, "why did you let me live?"
I'm hopelessly depressed and am thinking that reduction will allow me to move on and take care of healthy baby A. I don't think I'm strong enough to take care of baby b (I once had a kitten that died, and it took me 2 years to get over the depression.) However, I'm also so afraid of regretting later on with guilt for aborting and thinking, "what if it was only a mild case and quality of life would have been okay?"
Can anyone advise what I should do? If you had a choice with your child still in the womb, would you have aborted? Keep in mind that I will also have to take care of the healthy baby while nursing the 22q baby. And please I'm only looking for advice, not flames.
Thank you.
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