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“This week, my wife and I made the very difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy due to Trisomy 21. The choice was not made lightly. We really appreciate all of the personal stories that you guys shared with us, especially the unconditional support we received from fans with no matter what we decided…Trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome, is caused by an extra chromosome. It is caused by an error in cell division, like a glitch. The odds of a baby having it is 1 in 1000. When I first confronted this news, I was shocked but optimistic. If they’re a little slow intellectually, then we’ll make it work. I signed on to be a parent, come what may…but I just didn’t fully understand what Down syndrome entailed.”
These shocking and sobering words are excerpted from a widely-circulated social media post where popular YouTuber, filmmaker, and online content creator Jesse Ridgway attempts to legitimize abortion. A father telling the world that his baby’s life was ended deliberately because of what he terms a “glitch” is difficult to stomach, especially for the countless number of people worldwide who have been blessed by children who were born with Down syndrome.
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Mr. Ridgway’s post continues:
“50% of babies with DS have heart defects. 75% will have hearing challenges. Over 50% will have vision problems. Impaired immune function, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, delayed physical development, poor muscle tone, structural issues with face, decreased lifespan, etc…Sadly, the list is long, feel free to look it up…Down syndrome isn’t a ‘blessing,’ it is objectively sh**** from a health perspective. I didn’t realize just how rough it is for the child, let alone the family…more often than not, they would be fully dependent on others for the rest of their life…We spoke with doctors, friends, family and genetic counselors and learned that up to 90% of women terminate their pregnancy after learning the baby has Trisomy 21.”
All Babies are Valuable to God
Regardless of what Mr. Ridgway expresses, the Word of God states that all children are a blessing from God.
Psalm 139:13-16 declares, For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Jeremiah 1:5 proclaims, Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.
The Scriptures tell us that all babies are fashioned inside the mother’s womb and each one is known, valued, and loved by God. A child’s medical condition doesn’t change the fact that the Lord is sovereign and He has a plan for every precious life. Mr. Ridgway equates “blessing” with a child’s health status, but the Lord declares that every child is a blessing because they are His treasured creation. He is the One who gives them life.
In Defense of Life
Ridgway’s post, which has been viewed more than 22 million times, stirred up a wave of comments that were immediate, honest, and blunt.
Dave Bruno, the father of a child with Down syndrome, responded, “To anyone reading this who might be facing a similar crossroads, meet my son Josh…Josh is 3 and has Down syndrome, the very condition shared about here in this post. We received a prenatal diagnosis at roughly 10 weeks. Some of the complications we feared happened, but that wasn’t the end of the story. Josh was born early and spent a month in the hospital. At 1 year old, he had open-heart surgery. Now he’s 3, loves life, and is thriving. The hard days didn’t win. If anyone else finds themselves in a similar place, reach out. There’s a whole community of people here who support you. It hasn’t always been easy, but he’s worth every bit of it and then some.”
Christian Conservative author Megan Basham wrote, “Imagine the message you are sending right now to every person with Down syndrome around the world. You are telling them that their lives are not worth living. You are telling them that if their existence is an inconvenience for someone else that person should have the right to kill them. This is a horrific post and I hope you come to see that someday soon.”
Ben Zeisloft, author of Forsakers of the Fatherless, replied, “This was the murder of your own child, an innocent baby made in the image of God. Just because Down syndrome offers some added inconveniences does not mean babies with Down syndrome should be legally executed. Please run to Jesus Christ, who forgives murderers, in sincere repentance and faith.”
Social media personality and influencer Collin Rugg added, “Don’t act like you were doing this baby a favor. People with Down syndrome are the happiest people you will ever meet, and they live productive, fulfilling lives. They were made in God’s image and must be protected.”
Some people who read the post pointed out that terminating a baby’s life because of a genetic condition is nothing more than eugenics. These references hearkened back to Hitler’s T4 program, which targeted people with mental and physical disabilities. Individuals deemed “unfit,” or “handicapped,” were seen as “useless,” and a threat to genetic purity. Nazi propaganda posters in that day read, “The National Socialist State in the future will prevent people whose lives are not worth living from being born.”
Former Senator Rick Santorum communicated a heartfelt message to Mr. Ridgway that one can only hope will open his eyes.
“Our 8th child has Trisomy 18. The prognosis we were given was even more devastating. Thankfully I had learned that a father’s job is to love, protect, and provide while shepherding her to heaven. I learned all of my children are disabled in some way. All of them suffer physically and mentally. They all will break your heart and give you great joy. They all require more love and effort than you have ever given to anyone before. You were convinced not to love your child enough to even be born. I grieve for you and your wife because you bought the lies of a society that places yourself above others, even your own children. I grieve you saw your child through a utilitarian lens as a list of imperfections, not as a gift God sent you to bring you closer to Him. God doesn’t make mistakes. It is clear from your post that this child was given to you to help you find what really matters in life, to teach you about sacrificial love and put you on a path to true happiness on this earth and in eternity. I will pray for repentance, reconciliation, and restoration so some day you will meet your child in heaven.”
Catherine Simmons, Development Manager of the Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida, shares, “As individuals, we are all different. We each have unique attributes, skills, and talents. Together, all of these differences come together in society to create the human race–diverse, interesting, and valuable. All people have value, and they should be treated with kindness and respect. No one person is more important or better than any other person. At the Foundation, we believe that all people have potential, and that when potential is given opportunity, the outcome is success.”
Save a Puppy, or a Baby?
When it comes to the sanctity of human life, it’s clear that many Americans have the wrong perspective. Live Action, an organization dedicated to educating the public about the brutal reality of abortion, exposed just how backward society has become when the topic revolves around preserving human lives.
An article on the Live Action website explains, “With two petitions in hand, Live Action asked passers-by to sign a petition to save puppies, and then followed up by asking them to sign a petition to end the killing of human babies through abortion.” Sadly, “person after person refuses to sign the petition to end abortion after agreeing to sign the petition to save puppies.” One woman even replied, “I’m for the dogs. I treat my dogs like kids.”
Adding to this perspective, how is it that the UK government has signed bills to keep lobsters and crabs from being boiled alive, but it’s legally permissible to dismember babies during second-trimester abortions? Comparatively, a lawmaker from California, one of America’s most pro-abortion states, introduced a bill of rights for cats and dogs, giving them legal protections similar to those of a human being.
When people equate animals with people and refer to babies as a “clump of cells,” the dehumanization process has taken a huge step forward. Furthermore, if babies in the womb are considered expendable simply because they have a genetic condition, where does this leave society? There is no other answer but a dark, confused place where the womb is no longer a safe haven but a tomb.
Pray for the Ridgway Family
Mr. Ridgway and his wife chose to end the life of their baby. In the midst of this controversial and sad situation, however, we must remember to pray for this couple. Whether they realize it or not, they are in need of a Savior who can forgive their sins and heal their wounds. We can all point our fingers, but in the end, the Lord is sovereign over all things. No matter how grievous the sin, Jesus can redeem and restore. Mr. Ridgway shared that he and his wife have received many hate-filled comments and even death threats after the post went viral. We must pray for Jesus to send messengers of the gospel who will share the truth with a heart that seeks conviction and redemption, not condemnation.
Whether a person is influenced by the pro-abortion movement, blinded, or willfully ignorant, they need the Lord Jesus to shine light into their situation and show them what is good, righteous, and true. The goal is to save and restore.
Lord Jesus, we pray for Mr. Ridgway and his wife to know You as their Lord and Savior. We pray their hearts would be penetrated with the truth that all babies deserve life. Of course, we want this couple to see their precious little one in heaven one day, so we pray that You would show them a vision of this grand reunion. Send your messengers to minister to this couple and lead them to You, so they will find true healing and restoration.
What do you think about this story? How are you praying?
Angela Rodriguez is an author, blogger, and former teacher who studies the signs of the times, as well as the historical and biblical connections between Israel and the United States. You can visit her blogs at 67owls.com and 100trumpets.com. She is also the author of Psalm 91: Under the Wings of Jesus and Hallelujah’s Great Ride. Photo Credit: Valeriia Svietlova/Pexels.
