NO Exception for Fatal Anomalies

For many

expecting mothers, news of their pregnancy is both a joy and a blessing. Too

often, that joy turns to sadness when a woman realizes that her pregnancy

involves a fatal birth defect and has no chance of surviving after delivery. In

this situation, a woman is faced with many medical decisions – none of which

warrant Government interference.

However, South Dakota's Measure 11 would force a

woman to carry any pregnancy to term, even in cases of fatal fetal anomalies.

The

following are some examples of fatal fetal anomalies, also known as lethal

congenital birth defects. It is important to note that the following list,

though extensive, is not comprehensive.

·        

Anencephaly – a condition where

portions of the brain are missing or reduced to small matter attached to the

base of the skull. [ American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Position Statement on 2006 Abortion Ban, 9/26/06 ]

·        

Inencephaly – a severe abnormality

of the spine and vertebrae, with the brain and much of the spinal cord

occupying a single cavity. [ American College of Obstetrics and

Gynecology Position Statement on 2006 Abortion Ban, 9/26/06 ]

·        

Hydraanencephaly – complete or near

complete absence of the hemispheres of the brain. [ American College of Obstetrics and

Gynecology Position Statement on 2006 Abortion Ban, 9/26/06 ]

·        

Infantile

Polycystic Kidney Disease with anhydramnios –a lack of amniotic

fluid during development. [ American College of Obstetrics and

Gynecology Position Statement on 2006 Abortion Ban, 9/26/06 ]

·        

Triploidy – the presence of three

full sets of chromosomes. [ American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Position Statement on 2006 Abortion Ban, 9/26/06 ]

·        

Limb-Body

Wall Complex-“ Limb-body

wall complex refers to a rare combination of disruptive and lethal

abnormalities which start early in the gestational process. Abnormalities

commonly associated with this disorder include cranio-facial abnormalities,

scoliosis, ventral body wall defect (thoraco-abdominoschisis), limb

deformations, short umbilical cord, and others. Other terms used to describe

similar findings include short umbilical cord syndrome, body-stalk anomaly, and

amniotic band syndrome.” [http://www.obgyn.net/us/cotm/9802/cotm9802.htm,

accessed 9/9/08 ]

·        

Bilateral

Renal Ageneisi- “ Bilateral Renal Agenesis is the absence of both kidneys at

birth. It is a genetic disorder characterized by a failure of the kidneys to

develop in a fetus. This absence of kidneys causes a deficiency of amniotic

fluid (Oligohydramnios) in a pregnant woman. Normally, the amniotic fluid acts

as a cushion for the developing fetus. When there is an insufficient amount of

this fluid, compression of the fetus may occur resulting in further

malformations of the baby.” [ http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/renal-agenesis-bilateral , accessed 9/9/08 ]

·        

Achondrogenesis-

“ Achondrogenesis

is a group of severe disorders that affect cartilage and bone development.

These conditions are characterized by a small body, short limbs, and other

skeletal abnormalities. As a result of serious health problems, infants with

achondrogenesis usually die before birth, are stillborn, or die soon after

birth from respiratory failure.”[http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=achondrogenesis,

accessed 9/9/08 ]

·        

Thanatophoric

Dysplasia-“ Thanatophoric

dysplasia is a severe skeletal disorder characterized by extremely short limbs

and folds of extra (redundant) skin on the arms and legs. Other features of

this condition include a narrow chest, short ribs, underdeveloped lungs, and an

enlarged head with a large forehead and prominent, wide-spaced eyes…The term

thanatophoric is Greek for "death bearing." Infants with

thanatophoric dysplasia are usually stillborn or die shortly after birth from

respiratory failure.” [ http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=thanatophoricdysplasia , accessed 9/9/08 ]

·        

Meckel-Gruber

Syndrome- “ Meckel-Gruber

syndrome (MGS) is an inherited condition that causes skull abnormality,

enlarged cystic kidneys, liver damage, and extra fingers and toes.   Infants with MGS are usually stillborn or die

shortly after birth.” [http://www.enotes.com/genetic-disorders-encyclopedia/meckel-gruber-syndrome,

accessed 9/9/08 ]

[ American College of Obstetrics and

Gynecology Position Statement on 2006 Abortion Ban, 9/26/06 ]

Some women

and families, understandably, decide not to carry to term a pregnancy with

lethal fetal birth defects. However, some do decide to carry such pregnancies

to term. That decision should always stay with a woman and her family –

Initiated Measure 11 would put the decision in Government’s hands and force

every woman to carry her pregnancy to term, even when the fetus has no chance

of survival after delivery.

Tiffany and Chris’ Story

Why did we decide to have an

abortion?

Two years ago in the midst of an

intense battle to ban abortion in our home state of South Dakota we learned that we were pregnant with identical

twins.  

Our sons were suffering from a

severe case of Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome, a condition where identical

twins unequally share blood circulation.

One boy was receiving too much blood

resulting in a strained heart and acute risk of heart failure. Conversely, his brother was clinging to life

as his blood supply was insufficient to sustain normal development. Because of the blood vessel connections

across the placenta, if one twin dies, the co-twin faces significant risk for

death.

We were faced with an impossible

decision that forced us to examine or moral and spiritual fibers as never

before. Initially we resisted the

prognosis and clung to the sliver of hope that our boys would win the

fight. However, their conditions

continued to deteriorate and we were faced with the most difficult decision of

our lives.

We could let nature run its course

and pray that by the grace of God our boys would survive, or we could abort the

sicker of the two boys giving his brother a legitimate shot at life.  

We decided to abort our son. Our decision was predicated on consultation

with experts in the field of fetal medicine, our personal beliefs, prayer, and

a mother’s intuition.   

Today we have a healthy two-year old

boy who is the treasure of his older brother and sister.   He is quick to flash a smile, has a

contagious giggle, and loves life.   It’s

as if he made a pact with his brother to live passionately and proudly carry

the spirit of his fallen brother.  

Throughout our state and across America , people struggle with agonizing decisions such as ours. The only thing more excruciating than making

this decision ourselves is a Government mandate depriving us of our right to

decide for ourselves.  

Since our abortion was not an

attempt to protect the mother’s life, Initiated Measure 11 would have stripped

us of our decision.    

Under Measure 11, we would be faced

with weekly ultrasounds capturing the progressive withering of one twin’s body

and deterioration of the other twin’s heart.

Measure 11 would impose activists’ beliefs

on families during our most challenging hours.

Everyday our youngest son’s contagious giggle reminds us that we made

the right decision for our family. Let

God be our judge.  

Please vote NO on Initiated Measure

11.

 

Tiffany & Chris Campbell

Sioux Falls , SD