Table of Contents, My Child My Gift

I only wish that, before I die, I can get across to one person that they must not close the door on the gift of their child who is different. They are being given something wonderful. The doctors say, "Let's do an amnio. Let's see if the baby is missing brain cells." What are brain cells? So what if Joey had a minimum sized brain? He could give love, and love is what matters. If I had to do it all over, I would. People say, "What did I do to deserve this child? Did I do something wrong?" My two children, who have handicaps, have helped me grow spiritually. Today folks look upon suffering as bad. The suffering you embrace is the suffering of the diagnosis, of professionals and other people who think you should just end it all now. I look at all these people and I think, "You are not blessed like I have been blessed." (Erin, mom of Joey who was born with Trisomy 18 and Patrick who was born with autism)

Kay-Marie was born with two lower limb differences. Today she wears two prostheses, drives her own car, has her own apartment, and manages her own floral design business Little Flower Florals. The photo shows her as a student at Rittners' School of Floral Design, Boston. View her floral design website on this link.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Forward

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. Finding Out

2. Tests and Terminations

3. Dealing with Doctors

4. Parenting Options

5. Sharing the News

6. Birth and Death Plans

7. If Your Child Lives

8. Into the Future with a Child Who Survives

9. The Gift of Your Child

Appendix A--Useful Books

Appendix B--Useful Agencies and Resources

Appendix C--Scripture and Inspirational Quotations

Appendix D--If You Have Had a Termination

Appendix E-- Grief Journey

Appendix F--Sibling Stories

Appendix G—Catholic Teaching on Early Induction of Labor

My Child, My Gift: A Positive Response to Serious Prenatal Diagnosis

To contact publisher, please email New City Press

To contact author, please email Madeline Pecora Nugent

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