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Bridget Sielicki
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Parents of babies with anencephaly have ethical, life-honoring options
A Tennessee couple who received a tragic prenatal diagnosis of anencephaly (a neural tube birth defect in which the skull does not form and the brain is exposed to amniotic fluid) is now advocating for pro-abortion laws, saying they were "forced to travel" out of state to abort their child.
The majority of children born with anencephaly will not survive long after birth — but parents deserve to know that they have life-honoring options.
Tennessee couple Amanda Jablonski and Brandon Chancey learned their second child, Daisy, had anencephaly at 22 weeks.
They sought a second and third opinion and were told that Daisy would likely die in the womb or shortly after birth. Doctors told them they could go to Chicago, Illinois, for an abortion.
In Tennessee, abortion is legal to 'prevent serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman.' Since there was no immediate risk to Jablonski's health, doctors in Tennessee could not legally commit an abortion.
The couple traveled to Chicago to have an abortion after 22 weeks. There is one abortion facility in Chicago that advertises abortion at that point in gestation, and describes the procedure as a two-day D&E abortion, which involves dismemberment of the preborn baby.
Many women have carried their babies to term following a diagnosis of anencephaly, receiving assistance from perinatal hospice programs.
According to WBIR, Amanda Jablonski and Brandon Chancey were expecting their second child, a daughter named Daisy. During a routine ultrasound at 22 weeks, they learned that she had anencephaly and just a one percent chance of survival. They were heartbroken.
"We were really excited. I think you drop your shoulders a little bit when you have a healthy baby," Jablonski said. "You don’t realize how hard it is. People take it for granted – because all of the stars have to align for the baby to come out healthy."
She added, "You walk in the doc excited to see your kid, and you walk out realizing your child is not going to make it."
Chancey was worried about the risks that Jablonski might face while pregnant with a baby with anencephaly. “So now my wife’s life is in danger, because pretty much the brain... and everything is just floating around inside my wife, which we accepted, but you can get very sick," he claimed.
However, clarification is needed:
Research has found that there is an increased risk of needing a blood transfusion, higher rates of preterm birth, and higher rates of C-sections in pregnancies with children diagnosed with anencephaly — but while the maternal morbidity (illness) rate is higher, maternal mortality (death) is not considered to be elevated.
The need for a blood transfusion was the risk that increased the most compared to pregnancies without anencephaly — and, when excluding cases of blood transfusions, a 2023 study found "the composite outcome was not statistically significant" — meaning there was no meaningful difference in outcome between carrying a baby with anencephaly to term versus carrying a baby without anencephaly to term.
It is unclear what doctors specifically told the couple, but at the time, it appears they did not consider Jablonski's life or health to be in danger.
In fact, she explained, "Basically, the way the law is now, since Roe v. Wade got overturned, since I’m in good health at this moment in life, my life was not in jeopardy – I would have to wait until my life was in jeopardy."
She noted that because her life was not at risk, "they couldn't induce my labor."
This is accurate. According to research published in The Linacre Quarterly regarding inducing labor following a diagnosis of anencephaly:
The purpose of the induction of premature labor would be to relieve maternal anxiety and mourning.
In such a rationale, the child in a Kantian sense, is being used as a means to an end. The end is the laudable goal of improving the mental state of the mother and the child's prognosis is hopeless for long term survival.
Nevertheless, induction of labor irrespective of the unborn child's best interests will inevitably lead to further devaluation of the anencephalic child in particular...
For any woman whose life is at risk, inducing labor for a preterm delivery would not be considered an abortion because of the intent (saving the mother's life). Inducing labor with the intent of hastening a child's death, however, would be considered an abortion.
Tennessee's Human Life Protection Act defines abortion as "the use of any instrument, medicine, drug, or any other substance or device with intent to terminate the pregnancy of a woman known to be pregnant with intent other than to increase the probability of a live birth, to preserve the life or health of the child after live birth, or to remove a dead fetus..." (emphasis added).
It also states that it is an "affirmative defense" if, "in the physician's good faith medical judgment, based upon the facts known to the physician at the time, that the abortion was necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or to prevent serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman" (emphasis added).
In other words, a woman's life does not have to be at imminent risk for an abortion to be legally carried out in Tennessee, but some criteria must be met.
After seeking second and third opinions, the couple ultimately went to Chicago to have an abortion. This, again, appears to demonstrate that three doctors in Tennessee didn't believe there was a significant threat to Jablonski's health that necessitated an intervention.
Yet, Chancey stated, "We were forced to travel pretty much to save Amanda's life."
WBIR claimed Chancey was not able to attend the abortion with his wife due to "privacy and protests."
WBIR does not offer any details on the facility that carried out the late abortion, but a Google search revealed one listed in Chicago that commits abortions after 22 weeks: Hope Clinic.
Though a late abortion could be carried out at a hospital, the fact that WBIR mentioned the presence of protesters indicates that the couple's abortion was likely carried out at a designated abortion business.
Hope Clinic is an "all trimester" facility in Chicago that is sadly known for 911 calls due to injuries to its abortion clients.
“I walked her down the hall at the hotel into an Uber – I sat in a hotel room by myself – hoping my wife will show back up,” said Chancey about his concern over protestors and not being allowed to go with his wife.
With Hope Clinic's track record of botched abortions, this would be a valid concern.
Warning: Image of abortion victim below.
This story is tragic, first and foremost, because a couple learned their baby was more than likely going to die either during pregnancy or shortly after birth. The loss of life, especially the life of a new baby, is heart-wrenching. Add to that loss the misconceptions and misunderstandings that led to the baby's premature death by abortion, and it becomes even more tragic.
Pro-abortion influencer Jessica Valenti took to social media to share her outrage that the couple traveled for an abortion.
"I want to make this clear," she said. "Her baby had no skull, no brain, fetal parts were floating around in her body, and she still did not legally qualify for an abortion in Tennessee. I need people to understand that this is what pro-life laws look like in practice."
Pro-life laws protect preborn babies from being intentionally killed; that's the point. But "fetal parts" do not 'float around' the mother's 'body.' Aside from the undeveloped skull, babies with anencephaly are whole, and are surrounded by the fluid-filled amniotic sac inside the mother's uterus. To say otherwise is inaccurate.
As described by Hope Clinic, abortions after 16 weeks "require one to two visits, depending on your individual circumstances and gestational age." It explains:
These procedures involve a combination of vacuum aspiration and dilation and evacuation (D&E).
On the first visit, you may receive medications or cervical dilators to begin softening and opening the cervix in preparation for the procedure. The second visit is typically when the surgical abortion takes place. D&E is a method that combines suction with specialized instruments to safely remove the pregnancy. Our experienced team will support you through every step, including pain management, emotional care, and post-procedure recovery.
The "specialized instruments" used to remove the baby in a D&E include a Sopher clamp that the abortionist uses to grip the baby's arms and legs and pull them off of the baby's body and out of the uterus one by one until he removes all of the pieces of the now-dead baby.

Here's former abortionist Dr. Anthony Levatino's description:
“Reach in again, pull again and pull out an arm… Sometimes a little face comes out and stares at you.”
This is when "fetal parts" may "float" around — when the baby is dismembered during the abortion procedure.
There is another option besides dismembering the baby diagnosed with anencephaly or letting a woman get incredibly sick or die if there are complications.

Though babies with anencephaly are likely to die at or shortly after birth, palliative care is an option to make a child comfortable and protect him or her from suffering while being held and treasured by his/her parents in that short time outside the womb.
As explained by the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, which is a pro-abortion organization:
Perinatal palliative care refers to a coordinated care strategy that comprises options for obstetric and newborn care that include a focus on maximizing quality of life and comfort for newborns with a variety of conditions considered to be life-limiting in early infancy.
For the purposes of this document, the term 'life-limiting' includes lethal fetal conditions as well as others for which there is little or no prospect of long-term ex utero survival without severe morbidity or extremely poor quality of life, and for which there is no cure.
There are several perinatal care options in Tennessee for parents facing a life-limiting diagnosis for a preborn child, and the organization Be Not Afraid provides supports and resources to families as well.
Professor of Pediatrics, Eugene F. Diamond, explained that the loss of a child will be difficult regardless of when the child dies. Killing a child ahead of natural death will not alleviate pain; it will only hasten the child's death. Diamond wrote:
There is currently insufficient evidence for the therapeutic effect of such procedures. The parents of anencephalic children will need to be provided with long term support and counselling regardless of when the baby is born.
In fact, research shows it is actually beneficial to the mother to carry her baby to term following a prenatal diagnosis.
In a study of 267 parents who lost a child due to a diagnosis of anencephaly, women who had abortions reported significantly more despair and depression than women who carried to term. Additional research on infant loss found that while any prenatal or infant loss is traumatic, “[r]isk of complicated grief was found to be especially high after termination of a pregnancy due to fetal abnormality.”
In a study of 405 parents who carried to term following the prenatal diagnosis of a life-limiting condition, 97.5% of participants reported an absence of regret in carrying to term.
Another study determined that “[c]ouples experienced selective termination as traumatic … [T]he women ultimately felt as if they were betraying themselves and their babies.”
If serious complications arise, inducing labor is legally allowed in Tennessee to protect the mother's health without dehumanizing or intentionally causing the death of the child.
The media doesn't often share stories of carrying to term with a baby with anencephaly; it goes against the narrative that abortion is necessary when children are diagnosed with certain health conditions in the womb.
But parents facing such a diagnosis often choose to carry to term and spend as much time as possible with their children.
Rachel Morrow and her husband spent the pregnancy with their son Ezra honoring him. Ultimately, Rachel was induced at 36 weeks to protect her own health. They held onto hope that he would be born alive, but he died during the delivery. Still, they never regretted the decision to carry him for as long as possible. They and their surviving children continue to honor his life.
Kari Williams learned that her daughter Marley had anencephaly. "To be told that her life was not compatible, I was devastated. Then [the doctor] suggested I induce the next day. And I looked at her. I gave her a funny look, and I said, ‘Do I have to?’ and she said no, but she thought it would be best since the baby wouldn’t survive and I had high blood pressure.” Williams refused to prematurely end Marley's life and carried her until her water broke at 34 weeks.
"When they told me she was breathing, I was so relieved. They told me she wouldn’t be born alive. So for her to be alive and breathing was amazing to me," she said.
Marley was able to meet her mother, father, brother, uncles, aunt, and grandmother in the five hours she lived after birth.
Gary and Amie Rohan were told that one of their twin girls had anencephaly. Willow Nevaeh died just five hours after being born.
“BOTH our babies are beautiful, precious human beings, with the only thing being that sadly one’s life is destined to be cut short," said Gary. On the twins' first birthday, the couple celebrated Bella Rae turning one and held a remembrance for Willow, calling it, "The most perfect day for our perfect girls.”
Sonia Morales learned that her preborn daughter Angela had anencephaly, but her skull wasn't completely open like some babies with the condition. Morales was offered an abortion but refused. "I knew I had to defend her right to life," she said, adding, “Even if it is a few minutes or hours, we are going to love her, and we’re going to make sure she is respected with dignity. And that’s what we did.”
Angela lived for nearly four years after her birth. Morales considered herself "blessed" to have "extra time" with her daughter.
Joe and Ann Baker learned their daughter Ember had anencephaly and decided to travel with her while she was still in the womb, to build memories. After birth, Ember lived for just over an hour. “We loved her well, and it was life-changing for our whole family,” Baker said. “It’s just amazing to see this little baby. She was very peaceful, and it was just precious, just that little bit of time. She just felt loved.”
Andy and Stephanie Schoonover learned at 12 weeks that their daughter Grace had anencephaly. "[W]e wanted to give that baby life in whatever way that God intended that life to look," said Andy. Grace was born at 39 weeks and, to everyone's surprise, came out crying. Andy read books to her, she was baptized, and she lived for 10 and a half hours, settled peacefully on Stephanie's chest.
"It was a joyful time to be able to experience her life... We know for certain that she felt love," said Stephanie.

When a preborn baby is most likely going to die at some point due to a health condition, abortion proponents tend to argue that aborting them is justified because they are going to die anyway. But a child's life is inherently valuable, regardless of disability or life expectancy, and should always be respected and cherished until its natural end.
Parents deserve to know that with expectant management, doctors can mitigate risks to the mother, and if a baby must be delivered early to protect the mother's life, this isn't legally considered an abortion.
Editor's Note: If you or others you know are facing a life-limiting prenatal diagnosis, there are perinatal hospice groups willing to provide assistance.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Our work is possible because of our donors. Please consider giving to further our work of changing hearts and minds on issues of life and human dignity.
Contact editor@liveaction.org for questions, corrections, or if you are seeking permission to reprint any Live Action News content.
Guest Articles: To submit a guest article to Live Action News, email editor@liveaction.org with an attached Word document of 800-1000 words. Please also attach any photos relevant to your submission if applicable. If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be notified within three weeks. Guest articles are not compensated (see our Open License Agreement). Thank you for your interest in Live Action News!

Bridget Sielicki
·
Issues
Isabella Childs
·
Human Interest
Angeline Tan
·
Opinion
Nancy Flanders
·
Issues
Cassy Cooke
·
Issues
Bridget Sielicki
·
Analysis
Nancy Flanders
·
Opinion
Nancy Flanders
·
Abortion Pill
Nancy Flanders
·
Pop Culture
Nancy Flanders
·
Issues
Nancy Flanders
·
Parents of babies with anencephaly have ethical, life-honoring options
A Tennessee couple who received a tragic prenatal diagnosis of anencephaly (a neural tube birth defect in which the skull does not form and the brain is exposed to amniotic fluid) is now advocating for pro-abortion laws, saying they were "forced to travel" out of state to abort their child.
The majority of children born with anencephaly will not survive long after birth — but parents deserve to know that they have life-honoring options.
Tennessee couple Amanda Jablonski and Brandon Chancey learned their second child, Daisy, had anencephaly at 22 weeks.
They sought a second and third opinion and were told that Daisy would likely die in the womb or shortly after birth. Doctors told them they could go to Chicago, Illinois, for an abortion.
In Tennessee, abortion is legal to 'prevent serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman.' Since there was no immediate risk to Jablonski's health, doctors in Tennessee could not legally commit an abortion.
The couple traveled to Chicago to have an abortion after 22 weeks. There is one abortion facility in Chicago that advertises abortion at that point in gestation, and describes the procedure as a two-day D&E abortion, which involves dismemberment of the preborn baby.
Many women have carried their babies to term following a diagnosis of anencephaly, receiving assistance from perinatal hospice programs.
According to WBIR, Amanda Jablonski and Brandon Chancey were expecting their second child, a daughter named Daisy. During a routine ultrasound at 22 weeks, they learned that she had anencephaly and just a one percent chance of survival. They were heartbroken.
"We were really excited. I think you drop your shoulders a little bit when you have a healthy baby," Jablonski said. "You don’t realize how hard it is. People take it for granted – because all of the stars have to align for the baby to come out healthy."
She added, "You walk in the doc excited to see your kid, and you walk out realizing your child is not going to make it."
Chancey was worried about the risks that Jablonski might face while pregnant with a baby with anencephaly. “So now my wife’s life is in danger, because pretty much the brain... and everything is just floating around inside my wife, which we accepted, but you can get very sick," he claimed.
However, clarification is needed:
Research has found that there is an increased risk of needing a blood transfusion, higher rates of preterm birth, and higher rates of C-sections in pregnancies with children diagnosed with anencephaly — but while the maternal morbidity (illness) rate is higher, maternal mortality (death) is not considered to be elevated.
The need for a blood transfusion was the risk that increased the most compared to pregnancies without anencephaly — and, when excluding cases of blood transfusions, a 2023 study found "the composite outcome was not statistically significant" — meaning there was no meaningful difference in outcome between carrying a baby with anencephaly to term versus carrying a baby without anencephaly to term.
It is unclear what doctors specifically told the couple, but at the time, it appears they did not consider Jablonski's life or health to be in danger.
In fact, she explained, "Basically, the way the law is now, since Roe v. Wade got overturned, since I’m in good health at this moment in life, my life was not in jeopardy – I would have to wait until my life was in jeopardy."
She noted that because her life was not at risk, "they couldn't induce my labor."
This is accurate. According to research published in The Linacre Quarterly regarding inducing labor following a diagnosis of anencephaly:
The purpose of the induction of premature labor would be to relieve maternal anxiety and mourning.
In such a rationale, the child in a Kantian sense, is being used as a means to an end. The end is the laudable goal of improving the mental state of the mother and the child's prognosis is hopeless for long term survival.
Nevertheless, induction of labor irrespective of the unborn child's best interests will inevitably lead to further devaluation of the anencephalic child in particular...
For any woman whose life is at risk, inducing labor for a preterm delivery would not be considered an abortion because of the intent (saving the mother's life). Inducing labor with the intent of hastening a child's death, however, would be considered an abortion.
Tennessee's Human Life Protection Act defines abortion as "the use of any instrument, medicine, drug, or any other substance or device with intent to terminate the pregnancy of a woman known to be pregnant with intent other than to increase the probability of a live birth, to preserve the life or health of the child after live birth, or to remove a dead fetus..." (emphasis added).
It also states that it is an "affirmative defense" if, "in the physician's good faith medical judgment, based upon the facts known to the physician at the time, that the abortion was necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or to prevent serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman" (emphasis added).
In other words, a woman's life does not have to be at imminent risk for an abortion to be legally carried out in Tennessee, but some criteria must be met.
After seeking second and third opinions, the couple ultimately went to Chicago to have an abortion. This, again, appears to demonstrate that three doctors in Tennessee didn't believe there was a significant threat to Jablonski's health that necessitated an intervention.
Yet, Chancey stated, "We were forced to travel pretty much to save Amanda's life."
WBIR claimed Chancey was not able to attend the abortion with his wife due to "privacy and protests."
WBIR does not offer any details on the facility that carried out the late abortion, but a Google search revealed one listed in Chicago that commits abortions after 22 weeks: Hope Clinic.
Though a late abortion could be carried out at a hospital, the fact that WBIR mentioned the presence of protesters indicates that the couple's abortion was likely carried out at a designated abortion business.
Hope Clinic is an "all trimester" facility in Chicago that is sadly known for 911 calls due to injuries to its abortion clients.
“I walked her down the hall at the hotel into an Uber – I sat in a hotel room by myself – hoping my wife will show back up,” said Chancey about his concern over protestors and not being allowed to go with his wife.
With Hope Clinic's track record of botched abortions, this would be a valid concern.
Warning: Image of abortion victim below.
This story is tragic, first and foremost, because a couple learned their baby was more than likely going to die either during pregnancy or shortly after birth. The loss of life, especially the life of a new baby, is heart-wrenching. Add to that loss the misconceptions and misunderstandings that led to the baby's premature death by abortion, and it becomes even more tragic.
Pro-abortion influencer Jessica Valenti took to social media to share her outrage that the couple traveled for an abortion.
"I want to make this clear," she said. "Her baby had no skull, no brain, fetal parts were floating around in her body, and she still did not legally qualify for an abortion in Tennessee. I need people to understand that this is what pro-life laws look like in practice."
Pro-life laws protect preborn babies from being intentionally killed; that's the point. But "fetal parts" do not 'float around' the mother's 'body.' Aside from the undeveloped skull, babies with anencephaly are whole, and are surrounded by the fluid-filled amniotic sac inside the mother's uterus. To say otherwise is inaccurate.
As described by Hope Clinic, abortions after 16 weeks "require one to two visits, depending on your individual circumstances and gestational age." It explains:
These procedures involve a combination of vacuum aspiration and dilation and evacuation (D&E).
On the first visit, you may receive medications or cervical dilators to begin softening and opening the cervix in preparation for the procedure. The second visit is typically when the surgical abortion takes place. D&E is a method that combines suction with specialized instruments to safely remove the pregnancy. Our experienced team will support you through every step, including pain management, emotional care, and post-procedure recovery.
The "specialized instruments" used to remove the baby in a D&E include a Sopher clamp that the abortionist uses to grip the baby's arms and legs and pull them off of the baby's body and out of the uterus one by one until he removes all of the pieces of the now-dead baby.

Here's former abortionist Dr. Anthony Levatino's description:
“Reach in again, pull again and pull out an arm… Sometimes a little face comes out and stares at you.”
This is when "fetal parts" may "float" around — when the baby is dismembered during the abortion procedure.
There is another option besides dismembering the baby diagnosed with anencephaly or letting a woman get incredibly sick or die if there are complications.

Though babies with anencephaly are likely to die at or shortly after birth, palliative care is an option to make a child comfortable and protect him or her from suffering while being held and treasured by his/her parents in that short time outside the womb.
As explained by the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, which is a pro-abortion organization:
Perinatal palliative care refers to a coordinated care strategy that comprises options for obstetric and newborn care that include a focus on maximizing quality of life and comfort for newborns with a variety of conditions considered to be life-limiting in early infancy.
For the purposes of this document, the term 'life-limiting' includes lethal fetal conditions as well as others for which there is little or no prospect of long-term ex utero survival without severe morbidity or extremely poor quality of life, and for which there is no cure.
There are several perinatal care options in Tennessee for parents facing a life-limiting diagnosis for a preborn child, and the organization Be Not Afraid provides supports and resources to families as well.
Professor of Pediatrics, Eugene F. Diamond, explained that the loss of a child will be difficult regardless of when the child dies. Killing a child ahead of natural death will not alleviate pain; it will only hasten the child's death. Diamond wrote:
There is currently insufficient evidence for the therapeutic effect of such procedures. The parents of anencephalic children will need to be provided with long term support and counselling regardless of when the baby is born.
In fact, research shows it is actually beneficial to the mother to carry her baby to term following a prenatal diagnosis.
In a study of 267 parents who lost a child due to a diagnosis of anencephaly, women who had abortions reported significantly more despair and depression than women who carried to term. Additional research on infant loss found that while any prenatal or infant loss is traumatic, “[r]isk of complicated grief was found to be especially high after termination of a pregnancy due to fetal abnormality.”
In a study of 405 parents who carried to term following the prenatal diagnosis of a life-limiting condition, 97.5% of participants reported an absence of regret in carrying to term.
Another study determined that “[c]ouples experienced selective termination as traumatic … [T]he women ultimately felt as if they were betraying themselves and their babies.”
If serious complications arise, inducing labor is legally allowed in Tennessee to protect the mother's health without dehumanizing or intentionally causing the death of the child.
The media doesn't often share stories of carrying to term with a baby with anencephaly; it goes against the narrative that abortion is necessary when children are diagnosed with certain health conditions in the womb.
But parents facing such a diagnosis often choose to carry to term and spend as much time as possible with their children.
Rachel Morrow and her husband spent the pregnancy with their son Ezra honoring him. Ultimately, Rachel was induced at 36 weeks to protect her own health. They held onto hope that he would be born alive, but he died during the delivery. Still, they never regretted the decision to carry him for as long as possible. They and their surviving children continue to honor his life.
Kari Williams learned that her daughter Marley had anencephaly. "To be told that her life was not compatible, I was devastated. Then [the doctor] suggested I induce the next day. And I looked at her. I gave her a funny look, and I said, ‘Do I have to?’ and she said no, but she thought it would be best since the baby wouldn’t survive and I had high blood pressure.” Williams refused to prematurely end Marley's life and carried her until her water broke at 34 weeks.
"When they told me she was breathing, I was so relieved. They told me she wouldn’t be born alive. So for her to be alive and breathing was amazing to me," she said.
Marley was able to meet her mother, father, brother, uncles, aunt, and grandmother in the five hours she lived after birth.
Gary and Amie Rohan were told that one of their twin girls had anencephaly. Willow Nevaeh died just five hours after being born.
“BOTH our babies are beautiful, precious human beings, with the only thing being that sadly one’s life is destined to be cut short," said Gary. On the twins' first birthday, the couple celebrated Bella Rae turning one and held a remembrance for Willow, calling it, "The most perfect day for our perfect girls.”
Sonia Morales learned that her preborn daughter Angela had anencephaly, but her skull wasn't completely open like some babies with the condition. Morales was offered an abortion but refused. "I knew I had to defend her right to life," she said, adding, “Even if it is a few minutes or hours, we are going to love her, and we’re going to make sure she is respected with dignity. And that’s what we did.”
Angela lived for nearly four years after her birth. Morales considered herself "blessed" to have "extra time" with her daughter.
Joe and Ann Baker learned their daughter Ember had anencephaly and decided to travel with her while she was still in the womb, to build memories. After birth, Ember lived for just over an hour. “We loved her well, and it was life-changing for our whole family,” Baker said. “It’s just amazing to see this little baby. She was very peaceful, and it was just precious, just that little bit of time. She just felt loved.”
Andy and Stephanie Schoonover learned at 12 weeks that their daughter Grace had anencephaly. "[W]e wanted to give that baby life in whatever way that God intended that life to look," said Andy. Grace was born at 39 weeks and, to everyone's surprise, came out crying. Andy read books to her, she was baptized, and she lived for 10 and a half hours, settled peacefully on Stephanie's chest.
"It was a joyful time to be able to experience her life... We know for certain that she felt love," said Stephanie.

When a preborn baby is most likely going to die at some point due to a health condition, abortion proponents tend to argue that aborting them is justified because they are going to die anyway. But a child's life is inherently valuable, regardless of disability or life expectancy, and should always be respected and cherished until its natural end.
Parents deserve to know that with expectant management, doctors can mitigate risks to the mother, and if a baby must be delivered early to protect the mother's life, this isn't legally considered an abortion.
Editor's Note: If you or others you know are facing a life-limiting prenatal diagnosis, there are perinatal hospice groups willing to provide assistance.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Our work is possible because of our donors. Please consider giving to further our work of changing hearts and minds on issues of life and human dignity.
Contact editor@liveaction.org for questions, corrections, or if you are seeking permission to reprint any Live Action News content.
Guest Articles: To submit a guest article to Live Action News, email editor@liveaction.org with an attached Word document of 800-1000 words. Please also attach any photos relevant to your submission if applicable. If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be notified within three weeks. Guest articles are not compensated (see our Open License Agreement). Thank you for your interest in Live Action News!

Bridget Sielicki
·
Issues
Isabella Childs
·
Human Interest
Angeline Tan
·
Opinion
Nancy Flanders
·
Issues
Cassy Cooke
·
Issues
Bridget Sielicki
·
Analysis
Nancy Flanders
·
Opinion
Nancy Flanders
·
Abortion Pill
Nancy Flanders
·
Pop Culture
Nancy Flanders
·
Issues
Nancy Flanders
·