A devoted single mother from Scotland has decided not to terminate her pregnancy despite the fact that doctors say her baby only has a one percent chance of surviving either in utero or after she gives birth. Lisa Tilbury is six months along with her second child, who has been diagnosed with a kidney tumor. The baby's only chance of survival is an intra-utero surgery that will cost £300,000, about $497,100, including travel to the U.S., where the surgery would be performed by a team of specialists.
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The 22-year-old mom learned about the baby's tumor when fluid was found in the baby's stomach at her 20-week ultrasound, raising concerns and prompting further testing. Doctors initially believed the baby might have contracted a virus, but results came back negative. Further complicating issues is that there is no way of knowing whether the tumor is cancerous or not until it is removed. Worst case scenario is that the tumor is neuroblastoma, a very aggressive form of cancer. Doctors at Boston Children's Hospital in Massachusetts are willing to perform the costly laser surgery that could save the baby's life, but Tilbury and the baby's father, 21-year-old Blake Carrington, will have to find a way to come up with hundreds of thousands of dollars before that can happen–what would be an overwhelming tasks for any young parents, made even more so by the fact that they only have three months left before the baby's due date.
Lisa, who also has a 3-year-old daughter, wants to give her unborn baby any chance at life possible, and I can't blame her. For both religious and emotional reasons, I don't think that I could ever terminate a pregnancy, even if it meant risking the devastating possibility of still birth or a baby dying shortly after birth. I think as an incredibly young mother, Lisa is demonstrating an admirable amount of hope and faith. She has grown her baby in her body for many months and felt that baby move and kick and wiggle and squirm. I simply cannot fathom–as I'm sure she cannot either–being able to electively end the life of that child, even with the slimmest chance of survival. She is not letting go of her baby without a fight, and that dedication despite a seemingly insurmountable obstacle is utterly inspiring.
"The baby does deserve a chance either way–if it doesn't survive at least it got a chance," said Tilbury.
Tilbury and Carrington–who are no longer a couple, but are living together–have started various fundraising efforts in the hope that they can raise the necessary funds, and have several more events in the works for the coming weeks. "But if anything happens before we manage to get to America, I'm going to put the money towards somebody else in a similar situation," Tilbury said.
I hope with all my heart that this family is able to find a way to give their baby a chance at survival.
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