April 22, 2016
Abigail Beutler, the daughter of US Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, made headlines the day she was born when she became the first baby diagnosed with Potter’s syndrome to survive. Potter’s syndrome results in the unborn baby failing to develop kidneys and, until the birth of Abigail, it was described as ‘fatal’ and parents who were delivered this devastating diagnosis were routinely encouraged to abort their children.
"The doctors said, 'It's 100 percent fatal,' " Jaime, a Republican congresswoman from Washington state, recently told People Magazine. "She will either be stillborn, you'll miscarry or she will suffocate in your arms after she is born."

Jaime told the magazine that even as the heartbreaking news was given to her, she could still feel the baby kicking inside her. "As he's saying, 'The baby is not going to live,' I remember thinking, 'Boy she clearly disagrees,'”.
Jaime and her husband Dan refused to accept abortion, and they refused to accept that there was nothing they could do for their baby. When the chance came to try a new and uncertain procedure that could possibly save their daughter’s life, the Beutlers decided to take it.
Little Abigail was the first to receive a new amnio-infusion therapy. Due to the baby’s lack of kidneys, there is a lack of amniotic liquid that surrounds and protects the unborn child, which can result in in very serious harm to the baby. Abigail’s mother underwent the groundbreaking procedure, wherein saline was injected into her womb four times before the premature birth of her daughter.
Abigail remained in the Intensive Care Unit for weeks after she was born but was eventually able to return home with her parents and, with the help of daily dialysis was able to grow into a beautiful and happy toddler.
Now things are looking even better for Abigail and the Beutler family. Little Abigail finally was big enough for a kidney transplant and, with her dad acting as her donor, Abigail was able to undergo a successful transplant operation. Abigail is now a healthy and thriving little girl.
Her mother says, “She wasn't even supposed to be here …and now she's got this amazing whole life in front of her. We're incredibly blessed and it's worth it."
Abigail’s story is not merely inspirational due to this amazing breakthrough in science but also because it is a reminder of the great things that come when you reject abortion. The Beutler family rejected the suggestion that they abort their baby and decided to go for treatment, which resulted in the saving of their precious daughter’s life and the development of a therapy which can save the lives of many more children to come.

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