Parents refuse abortion for baby who would die at birth, donate her organs to save others

After being told their preborn baby had a rare congenital condition, a Tampa, Florida couple made the decision to carry their child to birth and donate her organs in the hopes of saving the lives of others.

Key Takeaways:

• At their 14 week ultrasound appointment Catherine Mornhineway and Andrew Ford were told their preborn baby had anencephaly, a rare condition in which the baby’s skull does not grow, leaving the brain exposed to the amniotic fluid.

• The couple decided not to abort their baby and to deliver her with the intention of donating her organs to help others live.

• They named her ‘Haven’, as they were driving through Winter Haven. The name symbolizes “safe harbor” and “light in the dark."

The Details:

When Catherine Mornhineway and her partner Andrew Ford went to their 14 week ultrasound they were given some unsettling and unexpected news. The doctors told them that there was a chance their baby had a condition called anencephaly, a rare but life-limiting diagnosis that typically causes death at birth or shortly after. In anencephaly, the skull and front of the brain don't form, leaving the brain exposed to amniotic fluid. Sadly, this suspicion was confirmed at a follow up ultrasound. According to the National Institutes of Health, anencephaly occurs in about 1 in 1,000 pregnancies in the United States, but only about 1 in 5,000 to 1 in 10,000 babies is born with the condition due to high miscarriage and stillbirth rates as well as abortion.

Tampa mom knew baby would not live but carried her to term to give others life

Catherine, who also has three other children, told the Tampa Bay Times that "most parents opt to terminate their pregnancy due to the fact that the diagnosis is incompatible with life." She was not sure how to proceed. Despite the harrowing prognosis, the couple began trying to find a ray of light in the darkness. Catherine searched online for families who had faced this same diagnosis to see how they moved forward. In her search she happened upon a TV show that had included a similar storyline in an episode.

“I came across a Grey's Anatomy clip about a character on the show that had a baby with this condition,” Catherine told Fox 13. “And she went along with the pregnancy and donated organs [to other babies], and I thought that was … it really touched me.”

She added:

I was just like, that’s my little girl. I’m going to carry her and spend as long as I can with her.

This opened their eyes and hearts to the option of keeping their baby and donating her organs to save other babies' lives. They then named their daughter Haven, as they were driving through a town called Winter Haven. The name to them symbolized a “safe harbor” and a “light in the dark."

On December 11, Catherine delivered Haven into this world. She and Andrew spent the next four days in awe, loving on their beautiful miracle girl.

“With the little bit of time that we got with her, we just wouldn't trade any of it,” Andrew told Fox 13.

Baby with anencephaly inspires a movement of kindness

Catherine added that they took Haven outside to the hospital’s bereavement garden with the approval of hospital staff so that she could “feel the sun.” When the time arrived for organ donation, the hospital staff lined up in droves to show love and support. A beautiful tribute to a life that made a big impact on so many others. 

“Back in the hospital room, she passed on my chest, and, you know, we were all just kind of snuggled into bed, and I just couldn't think of a more beautiful way to say goodbye,” Andrew told FOX 13, adding, “Our miracle becomes someone else's miracle as well.” Haven passed away surrounded by family and abundant love. 

Why it Matters:

LifeLink, the organ and tissue donation foundation that assisted the family, told FOX 13 that cases like this are extremely rare. "We don’t often hear stories of women carrying babies to term with the sole intent of donating that baby’s organs to someone else who needs a lifesaving transplant," said Sherri Day, LifeLink’s public affairs manager. "What a remarkable family."

The family faced a heartbreaking diagnosis and loss, but chose to find deeper meaning and purpose in their suffering. As one family member told Fox 13, “Her heart will beat on in the lives she saves."