Years ago I saw a documentary on Shiloh Pepin, known as the Mermaid Girl. She was born with her legs fused together. A rare condition called sirenomelia. She didn’t have a uterus, a bladder, a large intestine, a vagina or rectum. She had her first kidney transplant when she was two and had more than 150 surgeries in her short lifetime. She fought hard to live, but died at age 10, spending the majority of her time with doctors.
Shiloh was spunky, cute, funny, and full of life. She was also very miserable most of her life and suffered terribly. During the documentary, there is an interview with her mother, who is crying. She said that she knew Shiloh would be born to unthinkable misery (she knew about the condition but decided not to abort). She admits that in selfishness, she wanted to have a baby, and so she did.
I don’t understand why this isn’t child abuse. Yes, Shiloh was extremely lovable and even led an admirable life. But it’s bullshit to make someone suffer so, when it could have been prevented.
When I saw the story online last week about the baby boy born with his brain outside his head, I felt sick. He’s already lasted longer alive than doctors predicted. But what kind of “life” is in store for him? 7-month-old Bentley Yoder is alive and kicking and has undergone surgery to place his brain back into his skull. As with Shiloh, his mother knew what was in store for him but had him anyway.
Is it really worth it? I say the CONS outweigh the PROS in cases like this.
Think about it... what if it was YOU who was going to be born with a defect like fused legs or a brain blobbing outside your cranium. If you had a choice, would you CHOOSE life?
Nah, I didn't think so.
--Beth
--Beth
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