When Tierney Temple Fairchild and her husband received a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome, they agonized for weeks and ultimately chose to continue the pregnancy. Now that their much-wanted daughter Naia is ten years old, Fairchild reflects on the abortion debate sparked by the candidacy of Sarah Palin, whose son Trig also has Down syndrome. Fairchild opposes government intervention in women’s reproductive decisions.

An excerpt from her op-ed in the Washington Post:

I had a choice, and I chose life. Does that make me pro-choice or pro-life? Our political parties tell us we can’t have it both ways.  If I am pro-choice, then I must be for abortion. If I am pro-life, I may be lauded for a heroic choice when in fact none existed.

… One day, I expect, we’ll talk to our children about choosing Naia. As a mother, I will explain why I exercised my right to choose. Will I relive for them the fears, however unfounded, that preyed on my conscience? Will I tell them of the relative who urged me to terminate lest I burden taxpayers with the costs of Naia’s welfare? Right now, I am certain only that I will tell them that with choice comes responsibility.

There will always be some who see choice as condoning abortion and those for whom there is no choice. Rather than view choice as a proxy for abortion, I see choice as defining opportunity.

… I chose life, but I am thankful I had the choice.

Fairchild is an education and management consultant in Charlottesville, Virginia. She and her family were featured in the book “Choosing Naia,” by Mitchell Zuckoff.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 3rd, 2008 at 8:25 am and is filed under abortion, Campaign 2008, Down syndrome, NOT2BEMISSED. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.