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In January, Dr. Martin McCaffrey- a leading neonatologist and a professor of pediatrics at the University of North Carolina - spoke at the Perinatal Care Conference held at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin and co-hosted by Every Life Counts, SOFT Ireland, and Féileacáin and the International Trisomy Alliance.
 
The conference was truly ground-breaking in many ways.  It focused on the care and treatment of babies prenatally diagnosed with life limiting conditions such as anencephaly and Trisomy 13, and attendees heard from both medical professionals as well as the parents of children diagnosed with these serious and life limiting conditions.

 
Dr. McCaffrey gave a truly fascinating presentation at the conference that focused on how medical practitioners should be providing optimal care for babies prenatally diagnosed with Trisomy 13 and 18.  He discussed how often the parents he interacts with have trouble finding doctors who are willing to provide even the more basic care to their babies who they love with all their hearts and who enrich their lives so much.  Frequently, the judgment of these doctors is clouded by their own preconceived notions of people with severe disabilities.
 
He talked about how parents sometimes found themselves pressured by doctors to terminate their pregnancies where their babies were found to have a serious disability. One parent told him, “I was told by the geneticist that the only way I could get an appointment with the main obstetrician was if I was booking a termination.”  These revelations were extremely disturbing.
 
Dr. McCaffrey wants parents to have better and more positive options for their kids and the way in which he speaks of these children gives great hope to families.  In his words, “At the end of the day what we are fighting for are these wonderful, beautiful children who may have very short limited lives.”
 
Take a few minutes and watch Dr. McCaffrey’s inspiring talk : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oC9a8Yn15c