Dear Editor:

I wanted to share my personal experience that might shed a different light on the late term abortion debate. On June 7, 1976 my husband and I gave birth to a full-term baby. As she came into the world it was immediately apparent that she had multiple birth defects. She was rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit, where the tests revealed she had no kidneys and partially developed lungs. We were later told that her condition was called Potter’s Syndrome, a fairly rare condition where for some reason, during development those organs just did not form. At that time ultrasounds were not a routine procedure, so there was no indication before delivery that there was going to be any problem!

You may wonder if we wished that we had known before her birth about her chances of survival, so that we would be spared the trauma of carrying her to full term? Absolutely not! As I look back after 47 years, I can assure you that I am very glad we did not know. To this day, it brings us great joy to know that she was spared the trauma of pain, from a late term abortion! Today ultrasounds show that babies experience pain before they are born. She came peacefully into this world and left peacefully surrounded by her family who loved her.

I’ve been thinking lately, as the late term abortion issue has been such a hot topic in Maine, that I am very glad that we didn’t have the option to end her life before she was born.

Just something to think about!

Susan and Joel Morley

Edgecomb