99
July 25, 2009Tonight I am deeply moved and inspired by a boy who never spoke. Eliot was born with Trisomy 18 also called Edward’s syndrome. It is due to the presence of an extra chromosome and is usually fatal with most babies dying before birth or if they do make it past birth, only live for a few days. An extremely small percentage can live at least one year. Now I know, at least in Australia, that down syndrome screening in the first trimester is a standard procedure and if the baby is found to have this condition, then the parents can choose to terminate the pregnancy. Eliot’s parents, Matt & Ginny decided to go ahead with the pregnancy and Eliot was born. He lived 99 days.
Life is so precious. Ginny said: I was going to be happy. I would be sad later. She chose to cherish those moments and live in them with baby Eliot and be happy even though any tomorrow could have brought his passing. Matt and Ginny celebrated every day Eliot lived.
It’s all in the attitude, people. I know you’ve heard this before, but there’s something in living every day as if it was your last. Don’t worry about your tomorrows. Live for your todays. We’re so lucky to have more than 99.
You can check out Eliot’s inspiring blog here.
yeah I don’t like that people have a choice to terminate pregnancies. It seems so utterly selfish to me; choosing yourself over the life of another. Although this child did not live long, the parents are better people for his existence. Heck we are better off for his existence.
you’re right, warren. it is utterly selfish when parents choose to terminate. even worse, i heard that parents were terminating when they found out their baby had a club foot and that’s easily treatable. it’s terrible…
although eliot only lived 99 days, he was a gift from God who inspired his parents and all that knew him and his story today.
Hi jestar this is Naomi. Just letting you know I’ve begun a wordpress blog since I’m not really satisfied with blogster.
That is a beautiful video and a beautiful boy. He may have only lived 99 days, but it seems like every one of those days were rejoiced and valued, and his life was in no way made any less significant for its brevity.