{"id":282323,"date":"2022-12-30T06:46:12","date_gmt":"2022-12-30T12:46:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=282323"},"modified":"2022-12-29T13:28:40","modified_gmt":"2022-12-29T19:28:40","slug":"down-syndrome-abortion-refuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/down-syndrome-abortion-refuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Despite pressure, this mom refused abortion following Down syndrome diagnosis"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

Jessica Capitani and her husband had been trying for two years to start a family without success, but just as she considered meeting with a fertility specialist, she discovered she was pregnant. The couple was thrilled at the impending arrival of their first child. Then midway through the second trimester, a diagnosis of Down syndrome flipped their world upside down.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was excitement around my 20-week ultrasound,” Capitani told Live Action News. “My mother and husband were in the room. I was expecting to learn the gender of my baby. Instead, the technician kept going in and out of the room. I didn\u2019t think anything of it at first until we were directed to the doctor\u2019s office.\u201d<\/p>\n

The couple was informed the ultrasound had shown evidence of a chromosomal abnormality. Stunned, Capitani didn\u2019t quite understand what that meant. She recalled being given a box of tissues while the doctor explained she would need an amniocentesis to confirm the condition: Down syndrome. Because of the inherent risks involved with an amniocentesis, she preferred not to have the procedure done but reluctantly consented.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went home and researched everything I could about Down syndrome and learned there are three types<\/a>,” Capitani said. \u201cWhen the doctor called to tell me my baby was diagnosed with Trisomy 21, or Down syndrome, I realized he had no idea there were two other types. Doctors aren\u2019t trained on Down syndrome.\u201d<\/p>\n

URGENT:\u00a0<\/b>For every dollar given, 34 more people can be reached with the truth about abortion. Will you join us in this life-saving work as a monthly donor today?<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Pressure to have an abortion<\/strong><\/p>\n

Because she was now at 21 weeks, the doctor told Capitani he\u2019d schedule an immediate appointment for an abortion. Under Pennsylvania law, pregnancies can be terminated up to 24 weeks and she was approaching that mark.<\/p>\n

Capitani said, \u201cHe wanted to connect me with a genetic counselor to discuss late-term abortion, but I wanted to meet with other specialists to get more information on hydrocephalus which [the baby] supposedly had as well. I later learned he did not have that disorder.\u201d<\/p>\n

She noticed her baby was now referred to as \u201ca fetus\u201d or \u201cit,\u201d as if the child she had yearned for was not a life to be valued. \u201cInstead of being pregnant, I now had a diagnosis,\u201d Capitani said. \u201cAs if I had a horrible cyst growing inside of me, they couldn\u2019t wait to eradicate. There was that subtle pressure to have the abortion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Capitani struggled to process the emotions raging inside her. Her husband told her he\u2019d support whatever she decided, but Capitani just felt more isolated. She had hoped he\u2019d advocate for their child\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy husband felt it was my decision whether to go ahead with the abortion,” Capitani said. \u201cI\u2019d just sit and cry, questioning why I couldn\u2019t go on like other people. It was such a scary place to be. Connecting with other women in an online group with similar situations as mine provided a lifeline.\u201d<\/p>\n