Mothers tell their stories...

Search Our Site

index sitemap advanced
site search by freefind

I told her how sorry I was and that I loved her and did not want her to suffer. I would rather suffer every day for the rest of my life than to allow her to suffer one moment in life.

~Mom of an Angel

Everything was going great. As already having two "normal" pregnancies under my belt, I felt confident. I knew there was always that chance of hearing bad news but I said "no, not me, not our baby."

~A Heartbroken Mother

We felt that if our daughter had been in a car accident and was on life support with the same internal injuries, we would not keep her on life support and let her suffer. This child deserved the same dignity."

~ A grieving mom

I initially thought I would "be brave" and continue my pregnancy. But I came to realize that ultimately it wasn't about how strong I could be, how deeply I wanted this baby or what important lessons he could teach me. It was about what he would experience in his short life. Given his diagnosis, he would have known only suffering. As his mother, I couldn't allow that to happen.

~ A mother at peace

It was our ignorance for believing that all pregnancies led to a healthy baby. It was my arrogance for believing that since I had the best medical care, took prenatal vitamins even before and during my pregnancy, never took drugs, never smoked cigarettes and drank about half a glass of wine a year, that our baby would be safe.

~A bereaved mother

A mother will stop at nothing, including her own hurt, both mentally and physically, to protect her child.

~Brokenhearted Mother


Why we make a "Heartbreaking Choice"

Pregnancy does not end happily for everyone. Sadly, some parents receive grim news that something has gone horribly wrong with their pregnancy, an event that in most cases was planned and much wanted. As a result, they are faced with making a difficult decision about whether to continue with the pregnancy. We realize that all parents make a loving choice, one they feel is best for their family; however, regardless of the anomaly found, making that choice can be one of the most difficult ordeals anyone can face.

When facing a diagnosis of a severe or fatal birth defect, or you have to consider your own health or the life of another child (such as in the case of selective reduction) it is the hardest decision of your life. All you ever want for your child is the best, most loving environment possible, to offer protection from suffering and pain. How can we offer protection when that child is still in the womb?

Making the “Heartbreaking Choice” to terminate a pregnancy is never easy. It is fraught with difficult questions, with love, and a fervent desire to prevent suffering. At this crossroad, terminating a pregnancy is sometimes the kindest path we can take. We make these choices out of love and compassion.

Please read through our Articles, our personal stories and feel free to submit your own story or an article on making "A Heartbreaking Choice." Please click here to submit your story. We want to hear from you!

Please note: Many factors go into the decision as to which stories are posted. Not all stories submitted will ultimately make it to the web page. This decision remains at the discretion of the Administration.

If You Would Like To Donate

To date this site has been created and maintained entirely by volunteers. As the costs of hosting and maintaining this website continue to rise, even a contribution of a dollar or two will help to maintain this important resource! If you would like to donate you can do so by clicking below or going to PayPal and sending a donation to webmaster@aheartbreakingchoice.com. All money donated goes directly to the maintenance, hosting and software costs of this important resource as well as the maintenance of the Memorial Rose Garden.



Return to AHC Home