, this difficult process was complicated further when the baby she was carrying was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) at 16 weeks.){kind=link}
Surrogacy is not for the faint of heart. While carrying another woman’s child who can not conceive is certainly a noble act, it is not one that comes without emotional repercussions. Surrogates often bond with the child as though it is their own and must endure the painful separation of giving up the baby that their body nurtured for nine months.
For one Texas surrogate (who chooses to remain anonymous), this difficult process was complicated further when the baby she was carrying was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) at 16 weeks.
According to the Washington Times, the biological parents demanded the surrogate get an abortion after they found out about the heart defect.
The news left the Texas mother of two “completely in shock.” Based on the strong pro-life views that the couple had previously relayed to her, she was totally blindsided by their response.
“At the doctor’s appointment, during the diagnosis, I was asked how I expected the parents might respond to this news,” she told WFAA. “Frankly, based on what they had told me previously about their opposition to abortions, I expected they would want me to carry to term and treat the child. I expected we were all on the same page. I had no idea how much my life would change just a short 36 hours later.”
She was torn between respecting the wishes of the parents and defending their baby’s right to life. Reflecting on the birth of her own twins, she ultimately decided the latter was more important.
“This was, of course, a difficult decision, especially because he’s not my baby,” she said. “I understood how scared the biological parents must have been. I remembered how scared and confused I was when I got pregnant with my own twins. I was twenty years old… and was frightened. I did not consider an abortion even if, at that moment, it would have made things a lot easier… That decision was the best decision I’ve ever made.”
Knowing her rights as a surrogate, the Texas mom made the bold decision to refuse the abortion against the couple’s wishes.