Twonko said:
Dunno what the special needs/health probs are and it's none of my business. The question to ask I guess is "Would your child have chosen to live or to be aborted with full knowledge of his future condition".
Kieran has an "undiagnosed genetic disorder". He's pretty unique with a set of health problems that seem to be his own. He has sensory immaturity, struggles with the world in general, he doesn't walk or talk, he had heart surgery last year to correct a problem with that, and will need more in the future. New things crop up all the time, and some things seem to be sorting themselves out. He will probably be dependent on me as a carer all through his life, although I can't say that with 100% certainty, as doctor's still don't have a proper diagnosis for him. Just symptoms to treat.
As for answering the question, I really don't know the answer to that. For all his problems, Kieran is a happy, funloving and caring little boy. I think he enjoys life, though there are time when he's in a lot of pain and he has endured a fair bit of suffering for someone so young. Tbh, I haven't thought about it in this way before. As humans, I just think that once we are here it's our instinct to survive and to live life as best we can. Kieran, imo, still has no concept of life, what it is, and if he wants it. He's just "here".
Like I said in my other post, if I was to fall pregnant again and found that the next child was to be the same way, it would be a terribly difficult decision to make and I don't think I would know the answer til the time came. Kieran is rewarding, and I love him to bits, but he's VERY hard work. I've been incredibly lucky in that I have a supportive family and a bf who is great with him, so I manage to live a bit of life myself still. Another disabled child would be twice the work. Would I cope? Would my family cope? It would affect many people close to me.
Abortion is a personal thing, and you're right Twonko, we don't know the ins and outs of this case, but I feel it should be up to the parents. Whether they are making the right or wrong decision, in the eyes of the law, I feel that's the best way to go.
Edit: Just wanted to add... The decision for/against abortion of a child that was confirmed seriously disabled is so difficult in itself, that the threat of judges/outsiders making the decision for me would be a total nightmare.