Husband divorces wife after he learns their unborn baby has Down syndrome. He soon regrets it when the baby is born

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The News

Laura and James Watson stared at the ultrasound screen, their hearts sinking as the doctor delivered the heart-shattering news to them. Their unborn baby had Down syndrome.

Tears welled up in Laura’s eyes as she processed the diagnosis, but amidst the initial shock, she found strength within herself.

She still loved this baby. She was going to fight for him. This wasn’t the end.

A Different Reaction

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However, James, Laura’s husband of three years, didn’t didn’t feel the same way. James reacted differently.

He couldn’t bear the thought of raising a child with special needs and urged Laura to consider termination.

Despite James’ pleas, Laura was resolute. She couldn’t imagine ending the life growing inside her, no matter the challenges it might bring.

Problems

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This was not how it was supposed to be. They were supposed to be happy.

This baby was supposed to bring them unlimited joy and happiness. And now, all the baby brought was problems.

James couldn’t deal with the news. How were they going to look at a child with special needs? Looking after a child was harder enough but now they would have extra burdens.

They Couldn’t Take Care Of Him

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They would have to give him 24/7 care. This was something that both of them could definitely not do.

They both worked full-time and James loved to spend time with his friends as well.

Would this all come to an end if they had this baby? They worked around how they would get a babysitter if they wanted to go out, but now this was a whole different story.

Steadfast

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After they left the doctor’s office, James just couldn’t believe everything that he had just heard.

They had just received the worst news possible and his wife, Laura.

James’ frustration grew as Laura remained steadfast in her decision. He couldn’t comprehend her determination to embrace their child, flaws and all. Couldn’t she see that this was not the way to go for them?

He Couldn’t Accept It

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As Laura’s belly grew with each day, week, and month, James just couldn’t accept that this was how their lives were going to be from then on.

To him, they would not be living a normal life.

Everything they won’t be doing would depend on the child. What kind of life would that be? He couldn’t imagine it.

Stressed Out

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It was making him very stressed out. He just couldn’t get over it. Laura was beaming.

She was still so happy about the pregnancy. She held her belly as she talked and sang to the baby.

“I can’t wait to meet you little one. You mean the world to me, and I’m going to take care of you as best I can. Me and your daddy. Just you wait and see. You are going to have the best life.”

She Was Hopeful

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When James saw just how hopeful and happy Laura still was, he just couldn’t understand it.

How could she be so hopeful about a child that would have special needs?

They would probably have to spend thousands of dollars every month to accommodate the child and make sure that he had the special medical care that he needed.

Not Worth It

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As cruel as it sounded, James didn’t want all of his hard-earned money to go towards something like that.

To him, it was not worth it. He was fighting an internal battle.

Nothing he could do or say would convince Laura to terminate the pregnancy. Why was she doing this to them? Why was she insisting on going through these hardships?

Distant And Withdrawn

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Life was not supposed to be this way. They were supposed to have a healthy baby boy.

Why had life held them such a bad hand all of a sudden? What had they done to deserve this?

From then, James became all the more distant and withdrawn. He didn’t feel the bond to the baby that Laura felt. To him, there was no baby anymore.

He Couldn’t Face It

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The more Laura tried to convince him that everything was going to be okay, the more he backed himself out of the situation.

He didn’t want to face this. All of his friends had perfectly healthy babies, why was he the one that was going to have a special needs child?

He wouldn’t fit in with them anymore. Everyone would pity them.

A Conversation

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There was no way that he was going to stand for that. He loved his wife, but he hated what she was doing to them.

He tried to talk to her about it several times. However, this time, he was going to try to get through to her one last time.

That evening, the couple sat down and had a heartfelt conversation. James hoped with all his heart that he could get through to his wife.

Is It A Good Idea?

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He took her hands in hers and looked her in the eyes.

“Laura, I know you want to keep the baby, but I don’t think it’s such a good idea for us. You have to think about the bigger picture here. Which is, can we afford this? What would this baby need?

“It would be 24/7 special care, and both of us have full-time jobs. There’s no way we can afford it financially as well as time wise. I know I can’t. That’s why I think that it’s best that we terminate the pregnancy. We can always have another baby. One that is more healthy and one that we can afford to take care of properly. What do you say, honey?”

I Can’t

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Laura looked at her husband with tears in her eyes. She wished that he felt the same way that she did. “James, I love this baby no matter what. Why can’t you see that our lives will still be filled with joy and happiness?

“I’ve already formed a loving bond with this little boy and there’s no way that I can just get rid of him. I can’t do it.

I won’t do it. Please understand. This child is a blessing in our lives. Why can’t you see that?”Laura cried. She was so disappointed in her husband.

A Hard Decision

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That was all James needed to hear to make his next decision. He had, of course, given it much thought. It wasn’t a decision he had just taken lightly.

But there was no way that he was going to live this life. “Laura, I’m sorry, but I can’t accept this.

I can’t be a part of this. I’ve decided to leave. I’m so sorry, but I just can’t. This is not the child that I want to raise.

How Could You?

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Laura was baffled that James could just make such a huge decision on his own. “How could you do this to me? To us and this baby? I can’t believe you, James. You’re just leaving me to take care of our child on my own? What kind of man are you?”

In a heated argument, James delivered an ultimatum: choose the baby or their marriage. Laura knew what her decision would be. At that instant, James hauled out a suitcase and began packing.

With a heavy heart, Laura watched James walk out the door, choosing to stand by her unborn child. They had no idea what was about to happen.

Alone

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Alone and pregnant, Laura faced the daunting journey ahead with a mix of fear and determination.

Months passed, and Laura prepared for the arrival of her baby, seeking support from friends and family who admired her courage.

She thought about James every day even though she was so angry with him because he left her in the lurch. However, big things were about to happen.

The Arrival

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Finally, the day arrived. Laura went into labor, her emotions swirling as she anticipated meeting her son. Despite the absence of her husband, she found strength in knowing that she wasn’t truly alone.

Her friends and family rallied around her, providing the support and encouragement she needed. She was ready to welcome this precious boy into the world.

After hours of labor, the cries of her newborn son filled the room. Laura’s heart overflowed with love as she held him for the first time. However, there was something strange that everyone had noticed about the baby.

Overwhelmed

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Laura was too overwhelmed after giving birth. She hadn’t noticed anything.

All that mattered to her was that she heard her son crying and that he had ten toes and ten fingers. The rest would take care of itself.

All she wanted to do was hold her beautiful little boy in her arms. She knew that everything was going to be okay. However, Laura was not ready for what she was about to see.

Could It Be?

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When the nurse finally handed her newborn son to her, Laura gasped out loud. She looked all around the room. What was going on?

Her family and friends all stood huddled together, tears rolling down their cheeks. It was like they confirmed everything to Laura when she looked at them.

Laura’s mouth was agape as she marveled at her baby. How could this be? Was this a mistake? Was this even her baby?

A Mistake

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Tears streamed down her face. She was beyond happy and grateful. Her son, her precious baby, did not have Down syndrome. How could this even happen?

Laura questioned her doctor, and he admitted that there was a mistake and a mix-up with another expecting couple.

This was unbelievable. This whole situation had cost her her marriage. Laura was furious.

Anger and Resentment

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As she held her newborn son close, Laura’s emotions swirled with a mix of relief, anger, and resentment.

How could this have happened? How could a simple mistake tear her family apart?

The realization hit her like a ton of bricks. Her husband, James, had left her over a misdiagnosis. He had abandoned her and their unborn child, all because of a mistake.

Betrayal

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The anger inside her burned fiercely. James had given up on their family without even bothering to confirm the diagnosis, without standing by her side through the uncertainty and fear.

Her heart ached with the weight of betrayal.

She had trusted him, loved him, and he had abandoned her when she needed him the most.

Regret

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James’s decision to leave now felt like a cruel twist of fate.

Laura couldn’t help but wonder if he regretted his choice if he knew the truth about their son.

She imagined the remorse he must feel, the guilt weighing heavy on his conscience. But it was too late for apologies, too late to undo the damage he had caused.

Making A Return

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Eventually, James returned, trying to make amends now that he knew his son did not have Down syndrome. He was determined to see his son.

But Laura was not having it.

“How dare you come back here. You left us when we needed you the most. It was cowardly of you. And now, when you realize your son does not have special needs, he is good enough for you again? James, stay out of our lives!”

Strength and Resilience

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Despite the turmoil raging within her, Laura found strength in her son’s innocent gaze. He was a beacon of hope, a reminder that she was capable of weathering any storm.

With determination burning bright in her heart, Laura vowed to rebuild her life to forge ahead as a single mother.

She would give her son the love and support he deserved, no matter the challenges they faced.

A New Beginning

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As she cradled her son in her arms, Laura knew that this was not the end of their story but a new beginning. Together, they would navigate the ups and downs of life, their bond unbreakable.

With each passing day, Laura found solace in the love they shared, in the laughter and joy that filled their home.

And though the road ahead would be difficult, she faced it with courage and determination.

Healing

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In the weeks that followed, Laura’s anger began to subside, replaced by a sense of forgiveness and healing.

She knew that holding onto resentment would only weigh her down, and she couldn’t afford to let bitterness consume her.

Despite everything, she found it in her heart to forgive James. Perhaps he had acted out of fear and uncertainty, unable to cope with the prospect of raising a child with special needs.

Closure

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Laura knew that she needed closure, for both her sake and her son’s. She reached out to James, not with anger or resentment, but with a sense of acceptance and understanding.

Their conversation was emotional and raw, filled with tears and apologies.

James admitted his regret and begged for forgiveness, realizing the enormity of his mistake.

Forgiveness

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In time, Laura found it in her heart to forgive him. She understood that they were both victims of circumstance, caught in the whirlwind of emotions and uncertainty.

However, she wasn’t giving him another chance at their marriage. She allowed him to be a part of his son’s life, and that was it.

Laura had learned her lesson when it came to James. He wasn’t the man she thought he was. She hoped that he could keep his promise and be there for their son. It was the least that he could do.