DADADEL
The connection between a mother and her child is unmatched. For one young mother, a life-changing decision during her pregnancy came with no hesitation, driven by the love and faith she already had in her unborn child.
Pregnancy is often a time of hope, but every mother also wants assurance of her baby’s safety. During her routine checkups, this mother was given shocking news that could have altered the course of her journey. However, she remained steadfast in her belief that her baby deserved a chance.
Doctors informed her that her baby had Down syndrome and suggested terminating the pregnancy. Despite this recommendation, she chose to carry her baby to term. Years later, she penned a heartfelt letter to the doctor, sharing her experiences as a mother to a child with Down syndrome.
Courtney Williams Baker, mother to a beautiful little girl named Emersyn, faced the difficult reality many mothers fear. During her prenatal visits, doctors diagnosed her baby with Down syndrome and advised her to consider abortion. Courtney and her husband refused, committed to embracing their child regardless of her condition.
Two years after Emersyn’s birth, Courtney decided to address the doctor who had advised her otherwise. In 2016, she wrote a moving letter that began by contrasting her experience with that of a friend who also had a child with Down syndrome. “A friend recently told me about her prenatal specialist who, during sonograms, would say, ‘He’s perfect.’ When her son was born with Down syndrome, that same doctor reaffirmed, ‘I told you. He’s perfect,’” Courtney shared. “Her story tore me apart because it highlighted what I should have experienced too.”
The lack of compassion Courtney felt from her own doctor still haunted her. She expressed her deep hurt, writing, “I wish you had been that doctor. I came to you during the most difficult time in my life—terrified and anxious. Instead of offering support or encouragement, you suggested we terminate our child. You even questioned if we understood how low our quality of life would be with a child with Down syndrome.”
Courtney recalled how her appointments became an ordeal she dreaded. “From the first visit, we dreaded our appointments,” she wrote. “The most challenging time in my life was made nearly unbearable because you never told me the truth: my child was perfect.”
Her letter shifted to highlight the joy Emersyn had brought into her life. “Emersyn has not only enriched our lives but also touched the hearts of thousands. She’s given us a purpose and joy that words can’t fully capture. She’s brought us bigger smiles, deeper laughter, and sweeter kisses than we ever imagined. She’s taught us to see true beauty and experience unconditional love.”
Through her powerful words, Courtney shared a profound message about love, resilience, and the unshakable bond between a mother and her child.
