On August 30, 2001, after an elective C-section was carried out, Jayde was born weighing a healthy, 6lb 2oz., at the same hospital in which her mother had had the abortion seven months before.
“When I told my Dad what had happened he nearly crashed his van,” said Miss Dow, “I have got a child now that I wasn’t planning to have and I believe the hospital should take some responsibility for that. It has totally changed my life and my parents’ lives. I wasn’t ready for it.” For this reason, she is now suing the hospital ƒ250,000 to obtain funds to help her raise the daughter she never expected to have.
Miss Dow claims that as a result of the “failed termination,” she has suffered “loss, injury, and damage.” Her action states, “She suffered distress and anxiety upon the discovery of her continuing pregnancy. She required to undergo an elective C-section. She suffered pain and discomfort in consequence of surgery. She has the financial burden of care, upbringing and aliment of Jayde. She suffers an impediment in her ability to obtain employment in consequence of her care for the child.”
Jayde’s arrival has placed a heavy financial burden on the family, and although Miss Dow has cancelled her plans of becoming a nurse, her father is a local authority gardener and has taken on a second job to try to support his granddaughter.
Meanwhile, “the child” is a healthy, adorable four-year old who lives with her mother and grandparents, Douglas, forty, and Barbara, forty-one. Jayde’s father had been Miss Dow’s boyfriend since their third year at school, and he had maintained close contact with his child, until he died suddenly at home two years ago.
“I still don’t know if, or what, I am going to tell Jayde when the time comes,” Miss Dow said. “Maybe when she is nine or ten, I will sit her down and explain it to her. I just hope that she understands what happened and why I did it. Of course, it will be much harder to explain to her that she had a twin.” Oh yes, of course. Darling, a while back I committed sexual immorality with my boyfriend, and got pregnant with you and your sibling. Having a child didn’t fit into my life then; I mean, I was just a young, innocent teenager! So I murdered your twin, and I meant to kill you too, but the hospital let you live! This is why I am suing, dear, so that the hospital will learn to be more careful next time and not let unwanted children live like that. You perfectly understand why I’m doing what I’m doing, right?
Sources:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1584236,00.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4507090.stm
http://news.scotsman.com/health.cfm?id=438412005
Amazing…How could you STILL be so cold after holding that child? Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.
Something I don’t understand is how someone can be required to undergo an elective c-section…
That’s what her action states; it doesn’t make sense to me either. :)
This is a very poignant article. It never ceases to amaze me, the things that people will do. But it goes to show us that there’s no depth any person won’t sink to if they are not restrained by the hand of God.