In an effort to protect pregnant women from abortion misinformation, the Texas Medical Board is considering adopting a rule to clarify the state’s ‘life of the mother’ provision. While pro-life groups have been vocal supporters of adopting a rule that educates doctors on the exception to the state’s pro-life law, pro-abortion activists showed up to a hearing last month with a different message. The activists encouraged the board to add a new exception to the law to allow for abortions of babies with disabilities. Texas mother Kelly Strickland, who knows the pain of a prenatal diagnosis, argues this is a mistake for both women and children.
In September of 2023, Kelly heard the agonizing words: “Your baby has a disability.”
At 21 weeks pregnant, Kelly’s sonogram showed that the little girl growing inside of her was measuring small, with a hole in the bottom chamber of her heart. While these two conditions revealed that Brianna would likely have some form of disability, it was not until Kelly had a blood test done that she learned the full extent of the diagnosis. After the tests were completed, little Brianna received a 97% chance for trisomy 18, a rare condition in which babies are born with three copies of chromosome 18 instead of two.
For Kelly and her husband, this was the first time they had ever heard of trisomy 18, and they had no idea what to expect, or how the diagnosis would impact their future.
After explaining the depth of trisomy 18, the doctors discussed options and left Kelly and her husband with time to process. Thankfully, Kelly’s doctors did not pressure her to abort her unborn child, as is often the case in the United States where 60% of babies with trisomy 18 die not from their condition but from abortion.
After praying and working through her distress, Kelly realized that she needed to find women who had been in her shoes and had experienced similar pain. She found a trisomy 18 Facebook community of pro-life mothers who were looking to offer supportive advice. She leaned into the life-changing support and guidance these mere strangers were able to provide.
The support of online groups, family members and doctors was essential for Kelly to find her own strength. She was particularly motivated to fight for her daughter when considering, “What if?” ‘What if my daughter lives to be 13 weeks old? What if she gets to experience a full year of life or longer?” Through online support groups like Verity’s Village, Kelly saw that there are babies with trisomy 18 living – indeed, thriving – for many years, giving her hope for Brianna.
Kelly knew no matter how short a life her daughter would have, she couldn’t take it away from her. She and her husband vowed to fight for her.
Thankfully, the Stricklands’ doctors stood by them and supported their decision.
While Kelly would have carried longer if it had been possible, due to complications that arose a few weeks later, she had a C-section and delivered her beautiful baby girl. At only 29 weeks old, her tiny body exhibited immense strength. The entire family was there to embrace Brianna with an abundance of love. Her oldest sister, who was 8 at the time, coached her with words of encouragement and support, just as any big sister would do.
Brianna experienced her family’s boundless love and joy for two hours and then peacefully passed away in Kelly’s arms. For her family, those two hours were the most difficult they had ever endured, yet also the most special.
While short, Brianna’s life was full of beauty and grace and left a profound impact on those around her.
Brianna’s due date was March 4, fittingly at the start of Trisomy Awareness Month. The Strickland family still feels immense pain from losing Brianna, but they have found consolation in the many resources available to them and the hundreds of families like them that likewise know such grief and suffering.
Now Kelly, along with other women and families, is fighting to give babies with trisomy 18 a voice to ensure that they are protected and loved.
Despite the pain she experienced, she lives with joy today knowing that she chose life for Brianna. She continues to share her and Brianna’s story, encouraging others to choose life and to fight for the most vulnerable among us.
“No matter how small, or short their time is, their impact is still felt. Every life matters,” she said.
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