Moms and Dads of children with disabilities do find blessings from the joy and love their children show as all children are truly blessings from God. However, a parent can t help but feel powerless, wishing they could shield their children from all difficulty and pain. Birth defects are a major worry for expecting parents. Spina bifida is the most common birth defect, diagnosed in one or two of every 1,000 pregnancies in the United States. Babies born with spina bifida usually suffer physical disabilities such as paralysis, clubbed feet, urinary and bowel dysfunction, and water on the brain which would require painful draining procedures throughout the child s life.
Brain damage is also possible.
USA Today reports that many couples have an abortion after discovering spina bifida in prenatal testing. That s a tragedy. It s also medically lazy. Current medical research concerning surgery on unborn babies should give parents hope. The infant was born with normal leg movements.