The Border Mail in Albury published an article this week about a mother who chose to continue her pregnancy after being advised that she would be risking her life to do so.  This mum said.. ‘Little Tyler was a risk worth taking’.   She also says, “Doctors told me I had the option of letting him go or risk my life to save his. There was about an 85 per cent risk involved that I may have lost my life, too.  I had carried him for that long so I was not about to give up on him,”

This is an interesting article.  It does not mention the word ‘abortion’, although this mother was clearly offered an abortion at the time of her son’s diagnosis at 26 weeks pregnant.  The condition her son was diagnosed with, whilst it has necessitated numerous medical and surgical interventions since his birth, is one that he could live a full and productive life with.

The photo which accompanies the article shows the now 4 year old Tyler with his parents.  He is beaming with happiness.  I wonder how many people could look at him in that photo and say that he would have been better off not being born?  I wonder what the doctor(s) who offered to take his life would think looking at him now?

At 26 weeks of pregnancy, he was fully formed, alert, and had a chance of survival outside the womb if delivered even that early.  This was a courageous decision Tyler’s parents made, to continue to give their son every chance at life, and to know that they would love and take care of him even if he was not 100% healthy.  It is courageous because there can be a lot of pressure brought to bear on women who are told there is something ‘wrong’ with their unborn child.

Some of the stories of women being called selfish, and told that their children would be a burden on the health system if they choose life, are truly terrible.  Other stories of women who chose to continue their pregnancies against strong pressure to abort due to the child being diagnosed with something sinister, only to give birth to perfectly healthy children are downright horrifying.

Prior to the recent debate in Victoria to decriminalise abortion, one political group put forth the argument that disability was an undue burden on the economy as a reason to support decriminalisation.  Next they’ll be setting an age limit, both upper and lower, on the provision of medical care in case of serious illness or injury.  Lets hope we’re not considered too young or too old to be cared for if that happens..