A Mother’s Open Letter to a Doctor Who Told Her to Abort Her Unborn Child

Courtney Bakers' doctor diagnosed her unborn baby with Down Syndrome, then suggested she terminate the pregnancy. She wrote a letter to him that's now gone viral.

By Nancy Flory Published on June 9, 2016

An open letter to a doctor who told a woman to abort her unborn baby has gone viral, reports The Blaze. Courtney Baker’s prenatal specialist diagnosed her daughter with Down Syndrome, then told Baker that her quality of life would be low if she decided to continue the pregnancy with a disabled child. Even after she refused to terminate and told him the name she’d picked out — Emersyn Faith — the doctor continued to pressure her to end the pregnancy.

Baker wanted to write the doctor a letter, explaining how he’d been wrong to suggest an abortion because Emersyn brought so much joy that her “quality of life” was much better, not worse. The letter was long in the making, she told ABC News. “I knew how important it was going to be to write that letter, before Emmy was even born.”

In the letter, Courtney tells the doctor she is not angry or bitter at what he put her through.

 I’m really just sad. I’m sad the tiny beating hearts you see every day don’t fill you with a perpetual awe. I’m sad the intricate details and the miracle of those sweet little fingers and toes, lungs and eyes and ears don’t always give you pause. I’m sad you were so very wrong to say a baby with Down syndrome would decrease our quality of life. And I’m heartbroken you might have said that to a mommy even today. But I’m mostly sad you’ll never have the privilege of knowing my daughter, Emersyn.

Since Emersyn Faith has come into the world, Baker writes, her life has more meaning than ever.

…Emersyn has not only added to our quality of life, she’s touched the hearts of thousands. She’s given us a purpose and a joy that is impossible to express. She’s given us bigger smiles, more laughter and sweeter kisses than we’ve ever known. She’s opened our eyes to true beauty and pure love.

Baker went on in her letter to say that she would pray for the doctor to see the beauty of every baby in the womb.

So my prayer is that no other mommy will have to go through what I did. My prayer is that you, too, will now see true beauty and pure love with every sonogram.

And my prayer is when you see that next baby with Down syndrome lovingly tucked in her mother’s womb, you will look at that mommy and see me then tell her the truth: “Your child is perfect.”

Baker and her now 15-month-old daughter recently mailed that letter. The simple acts of opening and closing the mailbox and raising the red flag was closure, Baker said. She didn’t know how the doctor reacted to her letter, but said she knows that “God can work any miracle and he can change any heart.”

Baker then posted the open letter on Parker Myles Facebook page where it has been shared nearly 8,000 times.

“I hope he sees Emmy. I hope he sees my words on paper,” she said. “Emmy is proof that children with special needs are worthy and can change the world. She’s doing it right now.”

Read Courtney Baker’s entire letter here.

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