To have or not to have

[newstart2380]

A couple with 7 children are having a baby with 2 faces in July, both parents on welfare have decided whatever will be will be. The baby girl has one body, 2 arms, 2 legs, one heart and the only difference is that the baby will have 2 faces with 4 eyes. there have been only 35 known cases in the world and none have survived, they had the option to abort. What pressures does this put on all other members of the family ?

[*crikey*mate*]

What pressure does what put on all other members of the family?

the choice about abortion or the impact of a family member who looks a little bit different to them?

[cherry*135]

2 faces - one head?  A  rare condition called craniofacial duplication, where a single head has two faces.

[*crikey*mate*]

I watched a documentary about a set of 16 year old conjoined twins.

I'm sure their difference to what is considered to be "normal" presented many challenges, not just to the family but to the law as well, but they had a very happy life very similar to what most "normal" kids would have.

They went to school, had friends, boyfriends, got their driving licence, all the normal stuff that kids do, so I say that unless this little bub's life is at risk, then any issues that the rest of the family may face, they will have to learn to deal with, as I am sure they will.

Regardless of the difference in each of us, and some of those differences can be quite profound, including differing levels of disability, our family and society needs to learn to deal with us as we do our best to deal with them and any of their prejudices or other challenges that may be presented.

Life is challenging for all people, there is no reason why this little one shouldn't get a shot at it,.

[spotweldersfriend]

Sounds very cubist to me

[*crikey*mate*]

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@am*3 wrote:

2 faces - one head?  A  rare condition called craniofacial duplication, where a single head has two faces.

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mmmm, I already know some people like that, it's not such a rare condition after all, eh?

They seem to get on with their lives ok.

[newstart2380]

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@crikey*mate wrote:

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@am*3 wrote:

2 faces - one head?  A  rare condition called craniofacial duplication, where a single head has two faces.

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mmmm, I already know some people like that, it's not such a rare condition after all, eh?

They seem to get on with their lives ok.

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Only in neck knock

[newstart2380]

i know a family which has 3 children, one is severely disabled and it was diagnosed before birth. they decided to have this child and as beautiful as he/she might be it has cost the family dearly. Most families which have a child with a disability do not survive and the parents separate as this family is doing. it is a massive strain on all other members of the family but in particular the other siblings who miss out on so much. if i knew i was having a child with a severe disability and knowing what I now know I would seriously consider termination for the sake of my other children and partner.

[*crikey*mate*]

Well then, if I had have made that same decision, the world would have missed out on a pretty amazing person.

ok, I'm out. too close to home for me and this won't end well.

Thankfully perhaps, you were never in the position to need to make such a decision.

This child, from what you have written, there is no different to any other child other than their face looks a little bit different. It is hardly a severe disability.

The breakdown of the marriage is indicative only of a lack of strength in the marriage and of at least one the people involved.

and as for the other siblings missing out. nope, not going there either.

[the_great_she_elephant]

I'm not quite sure I understand this. The parents want the child. Does there socio-economic status havie any bearing on whether they should be permitted to continue with the pregnancy.

Since none of us have ever met this family I don't see how we can have any idea what pressures they may or may not be under. Unless the baby is going to need full time care for the rest of his/her life then then presumably the financial  pressures are not going to be significently greater than if it was a 'normal' child, and the emotional pressures are not going to be any greater than they would be on a family with one child and a good income.