Mothers pray for their pregnancy to go as planned from the moment they learn they are expecting. They all want their babies to be born healthy, but things don’t always go as planned. Courtney Williams Baker and her husband were overjoyed when they found out they were expecting a child. She had every ultrasound done and never missed an appointment. In fact, she looked forward to every doctor’s appointment because she knew she’d be able to hear her baby’s heartbeat…

Courtney’s world was shattered by one particular visit, and it wasn’t because she learned her baby would be born with Down Syndrome, which she welcomed with open arms, but because of her doctor’s reaction, who advised them to terminate the pregnancy. Courtney couldn’t get over the fact that the doctor thought she should have killed her baby Emersyn because she had Down Syndrome two years later, so she wrote him a letter expressing her feelings.

“A friend recently told me that when her prenatal specialist saw her child during her sonograms, he would say, ‘He’s perfect,'” wrote this mom. “She went to the same doctor after her son was born with Down syndrome.” ‘I told you,’ he said, looking at her little boy. He’s ideal.’ Her story shattered me. While I was grateful for my friend’s experience, it made me sad because of what I could have had.”

She went on to say how she wished she had been treated like her friend. “I wish you had been that doctor.” I came to you during the most difficult period of my life, when I was terrified, anxious, and completely despondent. I didn’t know the truth about my baby yet, and I desperately needed it from you. Instead of offering support and encouragement, you suggested we terminate our child’s life.

I told you her name, and you asked if we realized how low our quality of life would be with a Down syndrome child. You suggested that we reconsider our decision to keep the pregnancy going.”We dreaded our appointments ever since that first visit,” Courtney continued. “You made the most difficult time of my life nearly unbearable by never telling me the truth.” “My child was perfect,” Courtney said, adding that having Emersyn gave her life new meaning.

“You see, Emersyn has not only improved our standard of living, but she has also touched the hearts of thousands.” She’s given us a sense of purpose and joy that words cannot express, as well as bigger smiles, more laughter, and sweeter kisses than we’ve ever known. “She’s shown us true beauty and pure love,” she concluded. We’re so glad Courtney ignored her doctor’s advice and did the right thing.