Garden of Hope
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I'm not sure if this fits here or not, but found it interesting. It does speak to "picking and choosing" of a different sort.
The TimesDecember 15, 2007
Designer baby fear over heart gene test
Mark Henderson, Science Editor
A British couple have won the right to test embryos for a gene that leads to high cholesterol levels and an increased risk of heart attacks, The Times has learnt.
The decision by the fertility watchdog will reopen controversy over the ethics of designer babies, as it allows doctors to screen embryos for a condition that is treatable with drugs and can be influenced by lifestyle as well as genes.
While the procedure is designed to detect a rare version of a disease called familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), which often kills children before puberty, it will also identify a milder form that can be controlled by drugs and diet.
Critics argue that the test will allow couples to destroy embryos that would have had a good chance of becoming children with fulfilling and reasonably healthy lives.
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The test will also create an unprecedented moral dilemma for some couples, as it could show that they have produced no embryos completely unaffected by the disease. This would force them to decide whether to implant embryos that they know have a genetic risk of premature heart disease and death, or to throw them away and deny them a chance of life.
Britain’s first licence to test embryos for FH will be awarded next week to Paul Serhal, of University College Hospital in London, by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).
Its decision breaks new ground because it permits Mr Serhal to screen out not only the severe form of the condition but also the milder type, which is usually treatable.
Embryo screening has previously been approved only for disorders in which a gene invariably causes a serious disease, or for conditions such as breast cancer in which mutations carry an 80 per cent lifetime risk.
FH occurs in two forms. The more common version, heterozygous FH, affects 1 in 500 people. It is caused by a single mutated gene, which raises cholesterol and thus the risk of hardened arteries, heart disease and stroke. It can usually be managed with statin drugs and diet.
One in 250,000 people inherits two defective copies of the gene and develops homozygous FH, which is much more serious. Sufferers show severely elevated cholesterol from the age of 5, and can suffer angina by 6 or 7. Many die in childhood, and most have suffered at least one heart attack by the end of their twenties.
Mr Serhal’s patients, who are in their thirties, both have the milder heterozygous FH. They discovered their status only when they had a daughter, now 5, with the homozygous form, and they also have an unaffected son.
They said yesterday that they were delighted. “We had no idea that we both carried a gene for high cholesterol until the double gene was expressed in our first child. We are very lucky that our child has responded so well to the very high-dose drug regime. We have been led to understand that other children with the same double gene may not be so lucky.”
The couple, who approached Mr Serhal after learning that he was offering the pre-implantation genetic diagnosis test for a breast cancer gene, will have IVF next month, even though they are naturally fertile.
A single cell will be removed from each embryo at the eight-cell stage, and be tested for defective FH genes. Any that have homozygous FH will be discarded. The test will also determine whether the remaining embryos are completely clear of FH, or whether they have the heterozygous form. There may be none that are unaffected, leaving the couple with a difficult ethical decision.
Mr Serhal said: “This obnoxious disease can cause cardiovascular accidents at a very young age. Ideally, we will find embryos with no FH genes, but it is possible we will not and it will be up to the patients to choose. Some people would think twice about using embryos that they know have a risky gene, and others would say you shouldn’t screen out a condition that can be managed so people can live with it. It will be an awkward choice.”
Mr Serhal said that the HFEA had also indicated that it would be prepared to sanction screening for the milder form of FH alone for couples in which one partner was a carrier and the other was not, though he was not yet proposing to do such screening.
Have your say
While it it admirable that the parents wish to keep their child from suffering with the severe form of high cholesterol, isn't it pathetic that people think that life is not worth living if one is born with a high cholesterol disorder? Think of it. Here is the couple with the child who has the severe form of high cholesterol and they are controlling the disease well and the child is doing quite well. They would be murdering a human being if they took away their child's life. However, if an embryo, who would grow to be genetically similar to their child, were alive they would be allowed to kill that child who is simply at an earlier stage of growth. This is total lunacy! To characterize human life as valuable or not because the person has a disease, is like a life made up of waiting around for one's genetically predisposed diseases to manifest themselves. If this is what a scientifically examined life and scientifically prudential decisions entail they are monsterous values.
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Good news! The grandmother from Mexico who was granted custody of her grandson living in Oregon flew there and worked things out in person this week, meaning she has consented to the foster family's wish to adopt the child, provided the adoption is open and allows the child ample access to his Mexican relatives and culture: Oregon/Mexico Adoption Dispute Resolved.
Praise God!
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You know open adoption is working when you are talking to your friend (Sandra and Parker's birth mom) and she couldn't wait to tell you about this lady she did some work for that had two adopted children ( white woman with two biracial girls) AND she spent an hour talking to her about "opening" up her adoptions and why open adoption works. Including whipping out one of the many brag books I have made and sent in the past two years filled with all the wonderful momments we have spent togther....in her words as "A FAMILY" my heart is full!!
!VERY COOL, Heidi!
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WOW, is almost all I can say. I wonder what Amanda's thoughts would be about adoption.
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Very interesting and obvious points, Elizabeth. And the cause marches on.
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WOW! BIG BLESSINGS to the THREE new ABRAZO Families! Count them, three!
God is good all the time.
God is good all the time.
God is good all the time!!!!
I'm so very happy for all the new parents and the new family of 4!
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God Bless each part of this adoption triad and those close to them as they begin their new family relationship. Congratulations.
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Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
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God,
Please continue your watchful care of this loving mommy and her beautiful children. She is hurting and needs the help of a family who will love her children as their own and her as a member of the family. I pray that you move people's hearts to see things in your way so that a larger, grander family may be formed. After all, that's in your plan. Thank you lord for all the blessings you give us each day. Give the mommy a clear vision and peace in her decisions. Give the Abrazo ladies strength and perservence as they meet apparent road blocks to placing these precious children. And speak to the family of YOUR choice for this mommy and her children.
AMEN
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I know someone in NY, but I recently found out that Abrazo does not work in the state of NY. What a shame. These found dearly want to start a family and would be wonderful parents.
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Look at those eyes. . .such adorable children. Hoping they meet their new family soon.
Cathy
Home study ready, parents in waiting?
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Hoping someone finds it in their heart that they can accept these two young children and provide a loving home to them.
Cathy
?
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Positively meant to be. Congratulations Keith, Erika, Briton, and the birthmom and baby, too!
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Elizabeth,
You sure do know how to "put things". What a wonderful announcement. Congratulations to the newest Abrazo family and the birth family that made it all possible. YES! Come to Texas OFTEN!
Invite us all over to admire the newest abrzo babe!!! Congratulations, congratulations. What a wonderful, loving and life changing event. Blessings to all.
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What a wonderful family photo! Congratulations again and again!
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Congratulations to the Nita, Walker, Camille, and the birthfamily as they all welcome a blessing from above.
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What a happy new family. Congratulations to all of Lauren Isabel's adoring family.
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This is so true. Many people don't understand that. I remember having a discussion with my mom about this very thing when I told her about my upcoming placement of my son. I compared it to Russian Roulette and was only half kidding. It's beyond our control. When a biological child is conceived, the parents are not able to specify gender, hair color, eye color, personality, preferences, etc. Yes, genetics come into play. However, I look at my five brothers and sisters who have the exact same genetic pool and had the same environment and we're all as individual as we can be. SO George, I agree with you. Everything we do in life has some degree of risk involved. Becoming parents is no different.
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Congratulations to all of the new Abrazo families! God is GREAT and blesses us beyond our wildest dreams. May this same God comfort and hold the birth families as they grieve their losses and the infants as they learn to love a new mom and dad. Praise the lord!
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Congratulations to Shawn, Heather and the Big Sisters too. You have a powerful story to share with your son of how his first mom loved and wanted him so. How she struggled with her decision and put his needs above her own. May God bless her as she grieves and may God bless your joyous addition to your family. Congratulations to all in this bittersweet, joyous event.
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Big Congratulations to the newly formed family and the beautiful birthmom who was able to dream bigger for her child. God bless all involved!
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The new profiles are beautiful. You all have created a fantastic glimpse of who you are for the birth families.
As in so many other cases, Nathan's birthmom did not see my profile either. In fact, it wasn't finished when I learned about him. I had a home study from a previous adoption attempt that just needed to be updated and about 1/4 of the profile left to do. I did finish the profile after placement so that if Nathan's first mom ever wanted to see it she could and so that Nathan would also have a copy in his life book.
The selection process is so individual and you never know what will trigger that bond/match. As Adam said, just put your best foot forward on your profile and wait for the magic to begin!
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Hum. I wonder if they live in the real world. It's probably safe to say they'd be difficult to match.
Baby Announcements 2007
in New Arrivals
Posted
I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for the official announcement and the official names of Teeny and Tiny. The wait was well worth it, of course. Heartfelt congratulations to the newest abrazo family. I am so excited for you! You got the best Christmas gifts ever!!