Sorry if this sounds crass and unsympathetic, but this is an update on my post about multiple births–the fertility engineered kind.

I’m not at all surprised at the news. In fact, the only thing that I’m surprised at is that two are still alive, albeit barely.

From WCCO.com:

A statement from Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis said Cadence Alana, died Saturday morning.

The two other newborns of Ryan and Brianna Morrison of St. Louis Park remain in critical condition in the neonatal intensive care unit at Children’s. The children were all born June 10, about 4 1/2 months early.

Earlier this month, the Morrisons lost their sons Tryg Brenton, Bennet Ryan and Lincoln Sean.

Ryan and Brianna issued the following statement:

“Though our difficult time continues, our faith remains strong. Our families, friends, and churches have provided us with great comfort, for which we are deeply grateful. We continue to express our thanks to the staff at Children’s. Please keep us in your prayers.”

Ah yes, the will of God. The selective will of God. When you use high-tech means to become pregnant, it suddenly becomes God’s will. And then to selectively abort is wrong. It is of course, a very individual decision whether or not to reduce the number of fetuses in cases like these, but please don’t pull the God’s will trump card. If these people really believed in God’s will, then they would allow pregnancy to occur (or not occur) by natural means, and accept that God may have other plans for them if a pregnancy doesn’t come about. Like maybe as a foster or adoptive parent, or a teacher, or a Big Brother/Big Sister?

No, I guess not. It seems to be only God’s will when it nicely coincides with the will of the parents who use fertility treatments.

This was an earlier story, when the babies were first born, which gives a bit of background:

The Morrisons have been married for two years. After trying for about a year to get pregnant, Brianna Morrison went on fertility drugs.

At their first ultrasound, they found out Brianna Morrison was carrying six babies. Couples in their situation have the option of what’s called selective reduction, where doctors reduce the number of fetuses to give the others better odds. For the Morrisons, that wasn’t an option.

“For us, there’s no difference between a fetus that’s undeveloped and a baby,” said Ryan Morrison.

“Because it’s life and God gives life and it’s not up to us to decide to take it away,” added Brianna Morrison.

On their website, Ryan Morrison (daddy) wrote:

Each one of them is a miracle given to us by God. He knows each one of them by name and we will trust Him absolutely for their lives and health.

It is rather ironic that four of the infants have died, which would have been the same if they had selectively aborted. And if they had aborted them, the two struggling would have had a good chance of survival. If by some chance the two remaining babies survive, I can’t imagine that they won’t have significant mental and/or physical handicaps.

But what I really find infuriating is the backstory, which makes the God’s will scenario all the more disturbing. Brianna Morrison is only 24 years old. Not exactly on the cusp of menopause with a loud biological clock ticking. They’ve only been married for 2 years, and had been trying to have a baby for ONE year. Yes, one. Is that what you’d call infertility? Do we need to bring on the heavy artillery? Surely, if they truly believe in God, then they might have given him a chance, don’t you think? Or are they such a modern couple that they think God’s answer needs to be instantaneous? Or that God “directed” them to potent fertility drugs, and then gave them 6 kids, only to see 4 (as of this moment) die?

I haven’t seen or heard one word about the physician who prescribed these drugs. I consider that malpractice, that any licensed doctor would prescribe this woman fertility drugs under these circumstances. Considering the growing number of mega-multiples, some stringent guidelines need to be put in place. Or perhaps the doctor also heard the word of God, as it directed him to his prescription pad….

This is a really sad and sorry story all around. I think would-be parents should be taken on a tour of the NICU, and shown what these tiny preemies really look like. And told point blank about their odds of survival, the future problems they may face if they survive, and the cost and strain that they put on families and couples. After soaking it all in, only then should they be permitted to go ahead with these fertility treatments.