Will her organs be harvested? Keri Young asked the doctor when she heard that her daughter was not developing properly.
Imagine that during an ultrasound examination you hear: the baby will live a maximum of a few days after birth. How would you behave? Most of us would probably fall into despair, sadness, anger and focus on the tragedy.
Her heart will be beating, albeit in a different body
However, maybe one of us would have reacted like Keri Young and immediately thought of other children who might get a chance at life thanks to her daughter's organs . As Keri's husband Royce wrote on Facebook , "Literally 30 seconds after the doctor said our baby had no brain, amidst terrible cries, Keri looked up and asked if the baby dies after 9 months of pregnancy, will we be able to donate his organs? ".
The Youngs, who already have a 2-year-old son, learned in December that the little girl in Keri's womb has anencephaly - her brain and skull are not fully developing. A child in this condition is born dead or lives for a maximum of a few days. There are few things worse for a parent than such a diagnosis .
Keri is always on the side of life, so no matter what, she wants to have a baby and has made it clear that she will not use the early induction option. Ironically, she had spoken to friends about her views on terminally ill fetuses just months before her daughter's diagnosis.
“We all agreed that we are pro-life with regard to every stage of life. My words were exactly this: If I were in this situation, I would want my child to live and be healthy for as long as possible. If that means wearing it for 40 weeks, I'd do it. And from a practical point of view - organs! I would enjoy the thought that my child's heart is still beating, even in another body ." She sensed that these words would soon be fulfilled in her life?
A busy girl
The day after the ultrasound, the couple met with Lifeshare of Oklahoma, an organ procurement organization, to discuss the possibility of donating their daughter's organs. They heard that the girl's heart valves, kidneys, liver and possibly pancreas would be able to be donated. The Youngs already knew their daughter's body parts were priceless, but they were still heartbroken.
It wasn't until they met the pastor that they realized how valuable the girl's short life would be. He told them, “ In her 24-hour life, your daughter can save 50 lives. She's going to be a very busy girl ."
After this meeting, Royce and Keri confirmed their choice - they want to give their daughter every second of her life. "We continue with the pregnancy," Keri announced. “[The girl] will live, even if only briefly. She will give all she can and will do more in her time on earth than I have ever done ."
The Youngs participate in the life of the Church and have a deep faith, but Keri explains that their choice was not based on religious beliefs. Despite many doubts, it was simply the thing they felt had to be done. “It's about life. We all have them. Everyone deserves it."
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The Youngs decided to name their daughter Eve, which means life or life-giving in Hebrew . Somehow Keri - knowing that the child she gives birth to will not survive - is able to focus on the fact that her daughter's life will help heal others. Is there anything more selfless than accepting the loss of your own child, accompanied by concern for others who can gain life thanks to his death?
Royce, a very talented writer, described his wonderful wife in a very moving way: “She is amazing. She is amazing. She was made of a different fabric, combining intelligence, beauty, courage, humor, character and integrity into an impressive woman. Somehow, she's my wife ."
