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I was blessed with two healthy pregnancies, so I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to have my unborn baby diagnosed with Down syndrome. That's why I would never dream of passing judgment on a certain young (unidentified) couple who decided to abort their own child for just that reason. But my heart does break a little bit at the thought of any baby being unwanted for any cause, and that's why what happens next in this story is so unbelievably touching to me -- and will most likely be to you, too.
See, when Rev. Thomas Vander Woude of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainesville, VA heard about the couple's plans, his heart must have broken a little bit, too -- because he made a deal with the expectant parents: Carry the baby to term and he would help to find a loving adoptive family.
The situation was an urgent one, in Father Vander Woude's eyes, as the mother-to-be was nearly six months pregnant and lives in a state prohibits abortions past 24 weeks. Still, he wasn't expecting much when he asked a volunteer to post the following message on his church's Facebook page:
“There is a couple in another state who have contacted an adoption agency looking for a family to adopt their Down Syndrome unborn baby. If a couple has not been found by today they plan to abort the baby. If you are interested in adopting this baby please contact Fr. VW IMMEDIATELY. We are asking all to pray for this baby and the wisdom that this couple realize the importance of human life and do not abort this beautiful gift from God.”
Well, you know what they say about the power of prayer and/or The Lord working in mysterious ways ... in just over a day, Father Vander Woude's church was inundated with replies from interested parties -- "over 900 emails in regard to the baby," in fact! The offers have since been narrowed down to three families; the unborn child’s parents are reviewing the applications with the aid of an adoption agency.
I'm not sure who's most happy/relieved in this situation: The parents, the priest, or the lucky adoptive parents ... maybe the baby? Probably everyone. Because every baby really IS wanted, by someone. Or so I'd like to believe.
Are you happy to hear that so many people want to give this baby a good home?
Image via Bridget Coila/Flickr
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