Abortion? No Way. Dad Says Son With Spina Bifida Is A 'Gift' To The Family

Jeremy Reynalds : Aug 21, 2014
LifeSiteNews.com

"The world judges the value of human life by physical perfection, but God sees things differently. To Him, we are perfectly lovable in our imperfection." –Father Frank Pavone

What is the most pro-life, pro-God influence in your life? According to Catholic author and speaker Chad Judice, his five-year old, disabled son has been a tremendous source of happiness and faith for even the hardest of hearts. (Photo via LifeSiteNews)

In an op-ed published in The New York Post, Judice writes that when he and his wife found out their unborn son Elijah had spina bifida, they were offered the option of abortion. While they chose life, it didn't stop them from fearing the worst for their careers, eldest child, and Eli.

"That evening... Ashley cried as she read to me from the literature we'd been given," writes Judice. "It said 80 percent of parents who receive a spina bifida diagnosis choose abortion."

"And it told us that our son might have learning disabilities and be paralyzed from the waist down, unable to ever walk."

According to WemMD.com, the two most common forms of spina bifida have few, if any effects, on those who have them. However, the most rare and most aggressive form of the disability can result in significant problems for life:

• Little or no feeling in their legs, feet, or arms, so they may not be able to move those parts of the body.

• Bladder or bowel problems, such as leaking urine or having a hard time passing stools.

• Fluid buildup in the brain (hydrocephalus). Even when it is treated, this may cause seizures, learning problems, or vision problems.

• A curve in their spine, such as scoliosis.

Eli's form of spina bifida was severe, but—as it turned out—manageable, writes Judice. Despite surgeries and "medical challenges," he was out of the hospital within thirty days, though seizures and surgeries would continue to challenge the family. At five-and-a-half, he is entering kindergarten, learning to walk with modern technology, and "his intelligence is at or above average, and he's very talkative."

But perhaps the greatest miracle of all, Judice says, is the effect Eli has had on those who are outside of the family. His story has helped "some pregnant mothers... to reject abortion," and "rekindle the dormant faith of some... drawing them into a life with more room for God and family."