A Mother's Letter To The Doctor Who Told Her To Abort Her Baby
June 08, 2016
For expectant mom Courtney, the ultrasound images of her baby girl, Emmy, reflected a precious and valuable life. Sadly, her prenatal doctor didn't share the same opinion once the doctor diagnosed Courtney's unborn baby with Down Syndrome. It took Courtney some time to work up the courage to write the doctor, telling him just how wrong he had been. And now, this mother's letter and its powerful message is going viral!
A Doctor's Push
As soon as little Emmy's Down Syndrome diagnosis was uncovered, Courtney's doctor more than suggested abortion -- he pushed for it. Even after Courtney declined, the doctor insisted the quality of life for Courtney and for her unborn baby would be horrible -- not once, but repeatedly.
Thankfully, Courtney saw Emmy's life for exactly what it was -- a beautiful blessing from God. But from that day forward, she carried with her a deep sorrow that her prenatal doctor was never able to see this.
So, she wrote him a letter, and, with the help of her little angel (now 15 months old), Courtney and Emmy dropped the heartfelt note in the mail. Courtney then shared it on the Parker Myles Facebook page, where it swept social media!
Credit: Facebook / Parker MylesThe mother's letter read:
"Dear Doctor,
A friend recently told me of when her prenatal specialist would see her child during her sonograms, he would comment, 'He’s perfect.' Once her son was born with Down syndrome, she visited that same doctor. He looked at her little boy and said, 'I told you. He’s perfect.'
Her story tore me apart. While I was so grateful for my friend’s experience, it filled me with such sorrow because of what I should have had. I wish you would have been that doctor.
RELATED: A mother's letter to the son she was never supposed to have
I came to you during the most difficult time in my life. I was terrified, anxious and in complete despair. I didn’t know the truth yet about my baby, and that’s what I desperately needed from you. But instead of support and encouragement, you suggested we terminate our child. I told you her name, and you asked us again if we understood how low our quality of life would be with a child with Down syndrome. You suggested we reconsider our decision to continue the pregnancy.
From that first visit, we dreaded our appointments. The most difficult time in my life was made nearly unbearable because you never told me the truth.
My child was perfect.
Credit: Parker MylesI’m not angry. I’m not bitter. I’m really just sad. I’m sad the tiny beating hearts you see every day don’t fill you with a perpetual awe. I’m sad the intricate details and the miracle of those sweet little fingers and toes, lungs and eyes and ears don’t always give you pause. I’m sad you were so very wrong to say a baby with Down syndrome would decrease our quality of life. And I’m heartbroken you might have said that to a mommy even today. But I’m mostly sad you’ll never have the privilege of knowing my daughter, Emersyn.
Because, you see, Emersyn has not only added to our quality of life, she’s touched the hearts of thousands. She’s given us a purpose and a joy that is impossible to express. She’s given us bigger smiles, more laughter and sweeter kisses than we’ve ever known. She’s opened our eyes to true beauty and pure love.
Credit: Parker MylesSo my prayer is that no other mommy will have to go through what I did. My prayer is that you, too, will now see true beauty and pure love with every sonogram. And my prayer is when you see that next baby with Down syndrome lovingly tucked in her mother’s womb, you will look at that mommy and see me then tell her the truth: 'Your child is absolutely perfect.'"
This Mother's Letter Goes Viral
For Courtney, everything about the process -- from writing the note to mailing it and then sharing it -- has been cathartic. That alone makes the mother's letter it worth it. And while the effort has brought her closure, Courtney is hopeful it will do even more once it reaches the doctor.
“I hope he sees Emmy. I hope he sees my words on paper,” she said. “Emmy is proof that children with special needs are worthy and can change the world. She’s doing it right now.”
RELATED: A father writes a letter to his daughter with Down Syndrome
Courtney's powerful message is certainly making a big impression on all those reading it online. And we certainly join in Courtney's hopes that God will use the mother's letter to speak to the doctor's heart.
“I have no idea how the doctor might have reacted to my letter," she said. "But I do have faith that God can work any miracle and he can change any heart.”
Please keep spreading the important message of the sanctity of life by sharing this story!
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward." Psalm 127:3
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: A Mom’s Heartfelt Letter To Her Baby’s Surgeon
h/t: ABC News
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Celebrating God's Faithfulness in Hard Times - Your Daily Prayer - January 22
If you're facing a hard time, ask God to remind you of his love for you. Look and cling to the promises in His Word and ask others to pray for you during this season. We all need each other.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Celebrating God's Faithfulness in Hard Times - Your Daily Prayer - January 22
If you're facing a hard time, ask God to remind you of his love for you. Look and cling to the promises in His Word and ask others to pray for you during this season. We all need each other.
Past Stories
- Dad Whose Daughter Died After Transplant Gives Kidney to Another Little Girl
- Musician is Reunited With Letterman Jacket, 30 Years After Ordering It Back in High School
- Twin Brothers Both Pop the Question Just Days Apart, Without Planning to Do So
- Girl Scout Saves Her Dad's Life Just 11 Days After Learning CPR
- This 100 Year Old Kentucky Centenarian Works At Home Depot, Offering Great Tips For a Long Life
- Woman Married 82 Years Has a Very Special Disney-Themed 100th Birthday Party
- Man Discovers 46 Year Old Christmas Present in the Wall of His Childhood Home
- 4 Year Old Twin Girls Are Heroes After Finding Retired Police Officers Wallet
- Her Cat Was Missing For 7 Years, But She Finally Came Back Home
- Delta Held a Plane So a Daughter Could Have One Last Goodbye With Her Dying Mother
- Even Through Dementia One Special Phrase Kept a Grandmother Connected to Her Husband
- Mom, Dad, and 6-Year-Old Daughter Are Heroes After Rescuing Woman From Overturned Car
- Couple Receive the Biggest Surprise Blessing After Cervical Cancer Diagnosis
- Old English Sheepdog Who Appears to Have Special Powers, Receives an Award
- 49 Years Later Daughter is Reunited With Birth Mother and Other Family After Taking DNA Test
- 22 Family Members Surprise Grandparents With a Fun Family Sleepover
- Scared Doodle Rescued From Thin Frozen New Jersey Lake With Help From Neighbors Drone
- Woman Caught in a Riptide is Saved by Fisherman's Hook
- Couple Finds Lost Ring In a Snowy Wonderland During Engagement Photo Shoot
- Jimmy Carter, 39th President, Passes Away at 100, Leaving Behind a Legacy of Service
- Kimberly Williams-Paisley Talks About Getting Her Voice Back After Losing It Two Years Ago
- 90-Year-Old From Oklahoma Is Rewarded For Going Out of His Way to Help Others
- Husband Decorates His Neighbors' Homes For Wife Who Loves Christmas
- Couple Befriend Older Neighbor After Hearing Music Coming From His Apartment
- California Man Carpools With Adult Children On His Very Last Day of Work Before Retirement
- Family of Three Grows To Seven Overnight With Birth of Quadruplets
- The World's Oldest Dog Spike the Chihuahua Turns 25 Years Old
- Christmas Tree Planted Back in 1979 Inspires and Unites a Small English Village
- Dick Van Dyke Turns 99 After Evacuating From a Wildfire and Welcoming His Lost Cat Back Home
- Santa and Mrs.Claus Continue to Spread Christmas Magic Even With Santa's MS Diagnosis
- Little Girl Gets a Big Elf On the Shelf Surprise Honoring the Little Brother Who Passed Away
- Little Boy From England With Leukemia Delivers Over 400 Christmas Gifts To Kids At the Hospital
- Gold Star Family Receives a Big Surprise That Will Change Their Lives Forever
- 8-Year-Old With Down Syndrome Is a Hero After Saving Sister From House Fire
- Man Paralyzed At 17 While Snowboarding Has Found True Love and a Wonderful Life
- His Wife Passed Away, Now Their Special Tree is the 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
- Granddaughter Captures Last Words Between Grandparents, Married For 69 Years
- New York State Police Rescue Woman Needing a Heart Transplant Stranded in Snowstorm
- Born the Same Year the Titanic Sank, World's Oldest Man Dies at 112
- Family Receives Support From School and Community After Losing House in a Fire
- Soldier Reunites With His Military Dog Yyacob After Years Apart
- Chicago Man Discovers That The Owner Of The Bakery He Loved To Visit Was Actually His Mother
- Husband Pays For 40 Pet Adoptions At Shelter For His Wife's 40th Birthday
- Parents Find Healing After Loss of Son By Donating His Beloved Key Collection To Little Boy
- Mom Dances With Son At His Wedding After Being Placed in Hospice Care 2 Weeks Before
- Grandmother and Young Granddaughter Battling Cancer At the Exact Same Time
- Community Brings Christmas Joy to Virginia Woman With Just Weeks to Live
- Four Friends Recreate A Fun Vacation Photo From 50 Years Ago
- School in Arkansas Mourns the Loss of Their Beloved Emotional Support Dog Abby
- 93-Year-Old Has Made Sure To Attend Every High School Football Game Since 1946
Top Music Videos
CCM Magazine Oak Ridge Boys Singer William Lee Golden Shares How Group Has Navigated Recent Loss and Grief
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Casting Crowns ‘Good Good Father’ – Stunning Worship From Casting Crowns
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson 'The Cross' Powerful Lyric Video
toby mac TobyMac Drops ‘a Lil Church’ Official Lyric Video
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.