I'm not a political person. I try to be so open-minded that I usually end up swaying in the breeze to most arguments that are well-made. There are very few social or political issues about which I have strong feelings, and probably fewer about which I am willing to speak up pubicly. The fact that our President is a monkey is one of them. To wit.
In all seriousness, I tried to keep an ear to the State of the Union Tuesday night as I pored over old health insurance claims, trying to figure out what to do about my coverage options. Bush said this: "Human life is a gift from our creator..."
Yes, it is a gift. And an especially treasured one for those of us who have dealt with or are dealing with infertility.
"...and that gift should never be discarded, devalued or put up for sale." Here's the tricky part that I don't want him to get away with in his sound bite. I do not disagree that life should never be devalued. And I understand and agree with what's he's probably trying to say about not putting it up for sale (farming embryos to sell for profit to researchers?).
Mr. Barrenness and I have created embryos through in vitro. Those that developed were tested, and all four of the "good" ones with no genetic mutations were transferred back to me. Unfortunately, they did not survive. Three males and a female - those embryos were a gift, and they were treasured, and we did everything we could to help them survive and grow.
The remaining 17 embryos that were tested all had problems that would have led to miscarriage or serious pysical and mental problems if a pregnancy could be brought to term. Below is a partial list of the mutations and some of the problems that could have resulted:
- Monosomy of chromosome 13 - Chromosome 13, Partial Monosomy 13q is usually apparent at birth and
may be characterized by low birth weight, malformations of the head and
facial (craniofacial) area, abnormalities of the eyes, defects of the
hands and/or feet, genital malformations in affected males, and/or
additional physical abnormalities. Affected infants and children may
also exhibit delays in the acquisition of skills requiring the
coordination of mental and muscular activity (psychomotor retardation)
as well as varying degrees of mental retardation.
- Monosomy of chromosome 9 - Characteristic symptoms and findings include mental retardation;
distinctive malformations of the skull and facial (craniofacial)
region, such as an abnormally shaped forehead (i.e., trigonocephaly),
upwardly slanting eyelid folds (palpebral fissures), and unusually flat
midfacial regions (midfacial hypoplasia); structural malformations of
the heart (congenital heart defects); genital defects in affected males
and females; and/or additional physical abnormalities.
- Monosomy of chromosome 18 - The disorder is typically characterized by short stature, variable
degrees of mental retardation, speech delays, malformations of the
skull and facial (craniofacial) region, and/or additional physical
abnormalities. Associated craniofacial defects may vary greatly in
range and severity from case to case. However, such features commonly
include an unusually small head (microcephaly); a broad, flat nose; a
"carp-shaped" mouth; large, protruding ears; widely spaced eyes (ocular
hypertelorism); and/or other abnormalities.
- Trisomy 18 - Physical findings include: prominence to
the back part of the head, short eyelid fissures, small mouth and jaw,
external ear variations, clenched fist with index finger overlapping the
third and 5th finger overlapping the 4th, small
fingernails, underdeveloped or altered thumbs, short sternum (breastbone),
club feet and redundant skin at the back of the neck. Major
impact of Trisomy 18 is a predisposition to congenital malformations (birth
defects), increased infant mortality, and a developmental disability in
older infants and children.
- Trisomy 21 - Down's Syndrome
These were our embryos - Mr. Barrenness's and mine. Life that we created (with a little help). I'm not even sure our doctor would have transferred them if we'd wanted to, but I would not transfer these embryos. Not with the known path of miscarriage, still birth, saying goodbye to a baby only a few hours old, or a lifetime of emotional, physical, mental and financial struggle for our child and ourselves.
These embryos were discarded. And you know what, Mr. President? I refuse to believe that was the wrong, immoral, unethical or sinful thing to do. These were our treasured embryos -- but they were masses of 10-30 cells. No nerves, no organs, no feelings, no thoughts of their own. Only those of my husband and I and the intention of carrying our our lives and our family in a dignified manner.
-The Barrenness