Mother who was advised to abort child now joyful with child

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
2/15/2013
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Baby son needs full-time care, but parents don't care

Jade Clarke was told by doctors that her unborn son was so sick that she would have to have an abortion is celebrating after her son made a miracle recovery - and has come home from hospital for the very first time.

After more than a year of medics battling to save their baby, the 17-month-old boy has finally left hospital for good to live with Jade and dad Rikki for the first time.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Little Riley was born with his heart on the wrong side of his body, disconnected valves and twisted bowels. Jade was assigned a bereavement midwife.

After more than a year of medics battling to save their baby, the 17-month-old boy has finally left hospital for good to live with Jade and dad Rikki for the first time.

"Doctors told me time and time again that Riley would have no chance, and I should consider an abortion," the 22-year-old mom from Barnsley, Yorkshire said.

"But he's an angel sent from above. He's my first child and I just felt I wanted to keep him."

Jade and Riley's 25-year-old dad were told repeatedly by doctors that Riley "had no chance."

However -- the problems they forecast did not materialize. Riley was kept in the hospital for several weeks after his birth in September of 2011 and had to be returned there in December of the same year, where he has stayed until being allowed this week.

Riley still has a number of health problems and his airways are kept clear with a tracheotomy attached to a ventilator, which he had to use the entire time.

One of his kidneys has also not properly formed and is inside his abdomen, and must be checked every two weeks because it can stop and start working at any time.

Jade said she it was heartbreaking watching her friends with their own children, knowing that Riley was still in hospital. Both her and her husband take care of Riley full time, and are even looking forward to spending more time with their little boy.

Doctors have said that Riley might never walk. Jade said they constantly have to keep an eye on him as he can crawl and tries to stand up.

"He's such a happy chappy. He loves Tigger from Winnie the Pooh and is always bouncing about," she says.

"He needs watching constantly as sometimes he tries to pull out his tubes. It's challenging but I wouldn't have it any other way.

"I look past the tracheotomy now; I don't see it any more. If it wasn't there, you would never know."

� 2013, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Birth defets, United Kingdom, abortion, parents, disability

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1 - 1 of 1 Comments

Frank
4 months ago
Happiness is a warm story such as this.

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