Choosing Thomas (Grab Your Kleenex)
Not to get too much like the ending of Jerry Maguire on everybody, but we live in a cynical, cynical world … which we’ll be the first to admit we contribute to disproportionately, at least in this neck of the woods.
Every once in awhile though, a story comes along that forces us to momentarily stop making fun of everything (and everybody) and take a little personal inventory – not only related to what we do as a media outlet, but also as it relates to why we choose to believe certain things that don’t necessarily fall within the construct of our nation’s increasingly pervasive and self-limiting doctrine of political correctness.
“Choosing Thomas,” a project of the Dallas Morning News, is just such a story, and while we rarely “go Bible-thumper” on people, it does underscore to us the sacredness of the right to life … even under the most gut-wrenching circumstances.
This remarkable two-part feature tells the story of T.K. and Diedre Laux, a Texas couple who chose to have their son, Thomas, even though he was born with a terminal condition known as Trisomy 13.
Seriously, people … here’s the video … and make sure you’ve got some Kleenex handy …
Amazing.
You can check out the “Choosing Thomas” story in the Dallas Morning News by clicking on the links below.
WEB EXTRA
Choosing Thomas (Part I)
Choosing Thomas (Part II)
Comments
By OnNoNotAgain on September 16th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Powerful. Yeah. I’m a weepy little wreck now. Makes me more thankful my little dude was born healthy. Don’t know if I could be as strong as those two parents were.
By SS Minnow on September 16th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Wow! Don’t know if I would recommend watching this at work unless you don’t mind your coworkers seeing you cry.
By Natasha on September 16th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Yeah, I pretty much sobbed throughout this whole thing. Someone I know has also chosen to take her trisomy 13 baby to term. They hope the infant will survive labor, but they often do not. Gut wrenching…
By Margaret on September 16th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
I saw this a couple of weeks ago on the Crunchy Con blog, and found it amazing. I am equally amazed to find it here on Fits! What an excruciating, beautiful story. Watch out, Sic, fatherhood might be changing you…
By jcristg on September 16th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
You weren’t kidding!
By Eric on September 16th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
This is a very touching story and a very noble family. That being said, it would have taken a decisively different turn had the mother died from complications of giving birth. While I personally do not think abortion is a valid solution there are many situations where it may be an appropriate option for the family.
By Fashizzle on September 16th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
No one else will say it…so I will. These are terrible people. More than 80 percent of babies born with this condition die an agonizing death within their first month of life. The blunt reality is these “parents” obviously cared more about the stigma of having an abortion in Texas than they did with sparing an infant from a guaranteed early painful death.
Alright. Let the name-calling begin.
By southernmapart on September 16th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
The parents are selfish and centered to themselves, not making the hard decision. They appear to have had the medical insurance to see the birth of the baby take place in proper medical surroundings and the proper burial following the child’s death.
I do not support their decision. I do appreciate the fact that they were in a position to make a decision.
By Aquinas on September 16th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Fashizzle, no name calling, just a little touch of soul searching: if life means anything, having the chance to see your child being born and spend a few precious moments is worth it. You have absolutely no idea (or right) to question the parent’s motives. If life is only valued by a lack of suffering, then you’ve reduced it to a mere utilitarian value.
By Aquinas on September 16th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Oh, and FITS – if you think this is going all “Bible-thumper” on us, don’t worry. We can handle it. It’s actually a welcome change.
By Crooner on September 17th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Choice is a beautiful thing and a personal or family decision. I’ve known families (Ben-Wah comes to mind) who have made similar decisions. I thank God I never had to.
By orlando on September 17th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Amen Aquinas. I appreciate your thoughtful perspective.
By steve on October 7th, 2009 at 5:33 am
am praying for you all. am about to short out keyboard with tears
By ThereseAnn on October 11th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
This is a touching story. Its reality for many famileis. But folks finding this site and just learning about triosmy 13 should also be aware it is not always fatal…Each child should be looked at on a case by case individual basis. The trisomy 13 does bring with it many medical complications, but they present themselves differently for each child. My child is now 9 yrs. There are many survivors on the Living with trisomy 13 website, a support site for those caring for a trisomy 13 child.