Gammy, a 6-month-old baby living in Thailand, is blissfully unaware that he is the subject of an international controversy. His twin sister, living with her biological parents in Australia, is also unaware that she has a little brother.
Gammy and his sister were born via surrogate after their biological parents, Wendy and David Farnell, paid $15,000 to a 21-year-old Thai woman. [Read here for more on the injustices of the surrogacy industry.]
After four months of what seemed like a typical pregnancy, the twins’ surrogate mother, Pattaramon Chanbua, went in for prenatal testing. The tests revealed that baby Gammy had Down’s syndrome, while his twin sister appeared healthy. The Farnells requested that the Pattaramon have a selective abortion to eliminate their disabled child. She refused on religious grounds, claiming that her Buddhist beliefs barred her from killing the unborn baby. The Farnells were angry, but they could do nothing until the babies were born. Pattaramon delivered the twins in February.
The Farnells did not want a baby with a disability. Thus they brought home their healthy daughter, and left her twin brother in Thailand. Abandoned by his biological parents, baby Gammy was adopted by Pattaramon, who is raising him as her own child. Sadly, Gammy suffers from a life-threatening heart condition and needs urgent medical treatment. His story only became public after Pattaramon started an online campaign to pay for Gammy’s hospital bills. Overnight, his story went viral, garnering a considerable reaction from the public. Pattaramon has received messages of support from around the world, and there are calls for a legal investigation into both the Farnells and the entirety of international surrogacy law. Over $150,000 has been raised to provide for Gammy’s treatment and for the education and care of Pattaramon’s other two children.
Gammy’s situation is deeply distressing, but I believe the international controversy that ensued should be taken as a sign of hope. If people can be outraged at child abandonment, they can be outraged at abortion. There is a space in the human heart to which the pro-life movement can and must appeal.
Among 60-90% of all unborn babies who receive a prenatal Down’s syndrome diagnosis are electively aborted. Prenatal testing typically occurs between the 15th and 18th week of pregnancy. Abortions at this stage in a pregnancy are typically performed through a procedure called dilation and extraction, described as follows on americanpregnancy.org [WARNING: GRAPHIC]:
A numbing medication will be used on the cervix. A shot may be given before the procedure begins to ensure fetal demise has occurred. Then a cannula (long tube) is inserted to begin removing tissue away from the lining. Then using a curette (surgical instrument shaped like a scoop or spoon), the lining is scraped to remove any residuals. If needed, forceps may be used to remove larger parts. The last step is usually a final suctioning to make sure the contents are completely removed. The procedure normally takes between 15-30 minutes. The fetal remains are usually examined to ensure everything was removed and that the abortion was complete.
Imagine if someone called for baby Gammy’s public execution in the same manner – a shot in the arm to ensure his “demise,” and slashes with a knife until he is left in pieces, all in approximately 30 minutes. This is exactly what would have happened to baby Gammy, eleven months ago while he was in the womb. This is would have been his fate, had Pattaramon not chosen to give him life.
Gammy’s story demonstrates what can happen if people unite for life. It shows us that, if people can be outraged at child abandonment, they can be outraged at abortion. May we finally come to the realization that while child abandonment is abhorrent, abortion is an abomination.
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