Pregnancy was a natural and normal part of life for Bernadette and her husband Phil. After having seven children, the Grandville couple thought their family was complete, but the couple received a surprise when they found out they were expecting their eighth child, Hannah.
Though unexpected, Bernadette and Phil were happy to be blessed with another child. During the first ultrasound, the routine of another otherwise uneventful pregnancy was replaced with anxiety after the surprised sonographer left the room to consult with a doctor.
"What I see is not good," the doctor told the Smith's after looking at the screen......
After a long series of questions probing their health, eating habits and family history, the Smith's finally received a diagnosis for Hannah: Trisomy 18. The genetic disorder, also known as Edward's Syndrome, is caused by an extra copy of a chromosome in a person's DNA. The disorder can cause several types of birth defects, and according to the National Institutes of Health only half of unborn babies diagnosed survive the birth process, and those who do survive have an extremely poor prognosis.....
Fortunately for Hannah, Bernadette and Phil both strongly believed in the right to life for all unborn children.
Read the full story at Right to Life of Michigan's Real Life Stories.
