Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few weeks, you are well aware that a woman just gave birth to octuplets. Most times, when a birth like this happens, many people donate clothing, diapers, formula, etc to help offset the cost of suddenly having 8 new babies. This time is different. No corporations have made large donations. There have been no news stories ending with “if you would like to donate anything you can contact…” No one seems to be helping.
Why wouldn’t anyone want to help out? Because, this woman already had six kids, is a single mother, and had more embryos implanted than was probably responsible. Apparently all of this adds up to being shunned by society.
I have heard numerous stories on the news about how she should have aborted 6 or 7 of the babies and just had one. Really? Kill 7 of them because that’s too many? Gross.
The following comments have been made anonymous but were posted in response to the story on a news website:
“There is no way this woman should get any money from the media and corporate sponsorship. After watching the video of why she did this and what she hopes to become now that she did this. There is absolutely no way that anyone should support this behavior! Absurd and so wrong. “
“What a drain our our society! “
“I think DELIBERATELY having that many children is irresponsible and selfish”
This whole story really gets to me. The fact that she made irresponsible decisions doesn’t matter anymore. No… I am not excusing making bad decisions, but I am saying that now that the decision has been made, lets move on. I can hardly believe that no one has been willing to help out. “Why should I help out a woman who got herself into a sticky situation?” people might ask. Don’t help the woman, help the children. These beautiful 8 babies are creations of God and deserve to have the best life they can. None of them should have been aborted. God created them and wanted them on this Earth, otherwise they wouldn’t be here. Let’s stop judging and start gathering around this family because that is what they need. That is what we are called as Christians to do. Love our neighbors.
J,
I agree with you, however, I think people are so upset because she already is living on government aid with her other 6 children ages 2-7 in her parents house where she is working (questionable) on her masters thesis in counseling. People don’t understand the 14 children without a backup how-do-I-pay-for-them plan. I think if she’d had the 8 alone, there would be a completely different attitude among people.
Personally, knowing I could face this situation in the future (as a nurse, not as a wannabe octuplet parent!), I think it was irresponsible and probably unethical to have many children for the sake of having many children (not to love, not to nurture, but to have). Her IVF doctor is to blame too; knowing she already had six children she could hardly support alone…
Anyway, that’s my soapbox and I’m happy to discuss more! 🙂
~Cat~
Cat,
My point was not to discuss the lack of judgement displayed by anyone in this circumstance. It was to point out that in this big (and nasty) debate, 8 people are being overlooked. Those 8 children are unfortunately quickly becoming the collateral damage in an argument over whether they should exist or not.
There is no question that many people displayed bad judgement. Especially the mother. Now the question is, “how, as a society do we choose to respond?” The response that I have seen is not one that displays in any way the love of Christ.
-John
word!
First-thanks for stopping by my blog and sharing the love for all us military wives in Germany =D
Now onto my comment on your post. I agree with you completely that the babies are the ones suffering and getting the short end of the stick. My problem with the issue is that she made the decision to not only get in vitro, but have 8 eggs implanted. While I agree that aborting the “extra” fetuses is beyond wrong, I also think it is wrong for an unemployed woman to purposefully impregnate herself with more than she can handle. You have to consent to having that many eggs implanted. She chose to have 6 eggs implanted, and when she made that decision she had just as little job or income as she does now. I just think its sad that 14 kids are now in the tug of war between this woman and the rest of the country.
MT
Hi Mary, Thanks for coming to our blog as well.
Yes, unfortunately there were a lot of bad decisions made. Hopefully this woman’s children (all 14 of them) will not have to suffer as a result. I don’t know what the best solution is, but we pray that God provides.
Sarah
Yeah–I agree with you guys. This one just breaks my heart. These poor babies–and the other 6 kids are going to suffer greatly because their mother can’t make a socially, or personally responsible decision. Because she chose to fulfill her own needs rather than consider that of her children, they will now suffer. (did you see the interview she gave where she basically said that? That she had children because she wasn’t loved enough in her childhood? So she knew if she had children they would love her. Terrible…) But I do hope someone steps in to help. The problem of course is that no one wants to help the mother–fearing that her taking advantage of the government will be worse. Which, I think is a valid fear. But those kids need help, they need caring for–just for the sake of loving on them. Breaks my heart 🙁
Kate,
I didn’t see that interview, but I read about it. It really is sad, and I understand how people are conflicted because they don’t want to help the mother. I wish I had a good solution to offer.
Sarah
Yeah, as do I. They talked about it again this morning on the Today Show. Apparently the doctor who supposedly was her doctor implanted 7 fertilized eggs into a 49 year old woman, and 4 of them implanted. The eggs were donated by a 29 year old woman, and the sperm is that of the older woman’s husband. And the comment of this mother to be was that she and her husband were not prepared for 4 babies. They just wanted one. She’s already 21 weeks pregnant I think? I mean…come on people! You let this doctor implant 7 eggs? What did you think was going to happen? And she’s 49! Talk about a risk for both her and those babies. It just makes me sick. Babies are not collateral–it isn’t a joke, and I wish people would take things like this more seriously. And obviously this doctor needs to loose his license.
Great post, I totally agree with you. Its not the babies fault and they are going to need lots of love and support.
i am also agreed with the author……… a big kiss for all beautiful babies……..