When Shannon was pregnant with little Gracey, she discovered Gracey had Down syndrome.
But instead of encouraging her to persevere through her pregnancy, doctors painted a difficult image of a life they claimed she’d have – almost as if they didn’t want her to keep her baby.
While Shannon didn’t know what her future would hold, she knew she wanted to keep her precious little girl.
When the doctor’s found out Shannon’s baby had Down syndrome, they could have given her resources or reassured her that things would be okay.
Instead, they invoked fear, even going so far as to claim Gracey wouldn’t have a vibrant life – and might not even make it.
Shannon recalls the horrific experience and trauma she faced each time she went to the doctor’s office.
Live Action reported:
“At appointments some professionals made me feel like my life was going to be so difficult! I was told I wouldn’t cope, that Gracey won’t get much out of life and how limited her life would be, but how wrong they were.
Everything they told me about what Gracey would be like scared me, but it turns out these things were all false. It was like they were trying to make my mind up for me.”
Shannon could have listened to the “professionals” and aborted her baby – but instead she made a different choice.
Little Gracey was born and is thriving.
The doctors were wrong – and Shannon is so happy that she had the courage to carry her little girl to term even though the medical community tried to persuade her otherwise.
Shannon speaks with joy about the miracle of little Gracey. And although she wasn’t planning on having a child with special needs, she shares the unknown blessings that were waiting for her once Gracey was born.
Live Action continued:
“I wouldn’t change her for the world. Down syndrome is a beautiful part of her but it doesn’t determine who she is. It’s not something to be scared of, she is everything we ever needed. She is our reason.”
Sadly, this isn’t the first time out-of-touch doctors have tried to scare moms into aborting their babies simply because they have special needs.
As Christians, we know every baby is a gift from God and are worthy of life.
There is a stereotype that those with Down syndrome will have uneventful lives and never amount to anything – but nothing could be further from the truth!
From nuns with Down syndrome changing the world, to teenagers with Down syndrome speaking up for life – there’s no doubt that those with intellectual disabilities can accomplish great things.
Every life has value and worth, and every baby deserves the right to be born.
Cheers to Shannon for choosing to bring little Gracey into the world despite all the voices around her telling her not to.
May God continue to pour His blessings on this sweet family!
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