Miracles and Prayers: 'We Did Have to Go Snatch Her from Death'
A Washington state congresswoman is asking the public to pray for her daughter and husband as the two continue to recover from a kidney transplant procedure.
She's says in addition to needing prayer, another reason she's sharing her family's saga is to offer hope that there are other options to abortion for parents who are told their child has a life-threatening illness.
U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, a Republican from Camas, Washington, and her husband Daniel, ignored doctors' recommendations to abort their child two years ago. An ultrasound had revealed their unborn child suffered from Potter's Syndrome which was considered fatal. She didn't have any kidneys which resulted in the lack of amniotic fluid which kept her lungs from developing.
However, Dr. Jessica Bienstock, a perinatologist from Johns Hopkins Hospital told the Beutlers about a possible life-saving treatment for their daughter before she was born.
The Beutlers agreed to have the procedure done. It was a process of injecting saline to make up for the lack of ambiotic fluid. That allowed her lungs to grow and help her overall develop in the womb.
When little Abigail was born premature she had no kidneys but could breath on her own. At the time, that was something that had never happened to a baby born with Potter's Syndrome.
Abigail remained in the hospital for five months.The tiny baby had to endure kidney dialysis until she was strong enough and big enough to accept a kidney donation.
That moment came two months ago.The donor was Abigail's own father, Daniel.
Although both of her parents were a match, Daniel was the one who gave up his kidney for his daughter, for two reasons. First, he had already suspended his studies at George Washington University to take care of Abigail, including her nightly dialysis regime.
Secondly, Jaime is pregnant with the couple's second child.
"I wanted to help," Dan told People magazine. "I wanted to do everything I could to make her life better."
Looking back at the surgery and how it went so well, Jaime observed, "We did have to go snatch her from death. I know we're really blessed because the right things fell into place for us, and now other children get to benefit."
She said her daughter, now 3 years old, is behaving like any other toddler.
"We are told to expect Abigail to have a lot more energy and spunk, which is really hard to imagine because it doesn't feel like she could possibly fit more vivacity into that little body," she said. "She is a constant talker and is quite observant."
