Looking at the face of abortion

There is an article over at Salon.com by Ayelet Waldman that literally makes me physically ill. In her article, she proudly describes her second trimester abortion -- a decision she made because her "much-wanted child" was "diagnosed with a genetic abnormality." Or, as she describes her son, "an inadequate child."

It was her third pregnancy, she could feel the baby moving and had seen her child on an ultrasound. But, as she quite matter-of-factly states, "He was my baby, and I chose to end his life."

Interestingly enough, though, throughout the piece, she claims to have "no regrets." But, Waldman writes, "I wept for the fetus that I killed" and "This decision was not without its terrible costs. I mourned this baby's death. The night before the termination, I lay awake, feeling him roll and spin within my body......I was catapulted into a six month depression after the abortion, a depression that ended only when I got pregnant again."

If there were/are no regrets with her decision to (in her words) "kill" the baby, then why the tears? Why the depression?

Her conclusion is that we should "listen to the pregnant woman" and "value her" because "she values the life growing inside of her."

Yes, a life so valued that it could not continue because it was not deemed genetically perfect. A life valued, but subjugated to an ideal, perfect life. A life snuffed out because too much attention would be required.

Where does one begin with this?

With my first pregnancy, I was told (after taking the INCREDIBLY INACCURATE AFP test) that my beautiful baby would be born with Trisomy 18. I heard all of the awful things that would/could happen. (If the baby survived the birth, he would be terribly deformed and would not make it to his first birthday......and a whole list of awful complications.)

I elected to have a Level II ultrasound. Waited two of the longest weeks of my life for that appointment.

In that time, I knew that I would continue with the pregnancy no matter what. Perhaps if an organ isn't too damaged, my beautiful son could give life to another baby after his own death.

God doesn't give us guarantees for length or quality of life -- just an admonition to cherish and revere it.

The Level II ultrasound came back perfectly normal. A wrong due date was the culprit.

My four year old son is (along with his little brother) the joy of my existence. And he would have been no matter what the packaging was.

The good Lord doesn't say that as believers we are going to be exempt from suffering and pain -- but He will give us the grace to handle whatever comes our way. All we have to do is ask. Too bad the author of the tragic and twisted article didn't know that and that her child had to die because of it.

What in heavens name has happened to women that they can feel a child kick in their womb and nonetheless put them down like a family pet?