Abortion: no option for Adam and Jaymi Stapp

MONROE - The infamous Roe v. Wade decision handed down by the Supreme Court in January of 1973 clearly devalued human life. Since that atrocious decision more than 50 million babies have been slaughtered in abortion clinics and hospitals across America.

President Obama's Health Care Reform legislation before Congress will probably provide for government-funded abortions. That means American taxpayers will be underwriting the nefarious acts of those who have no compunction about killing babies.

Gerald Harris/Index

Adam and Jaymi Stapp share a story with their son, Jed. The Stapps, members of Walker Baptist Church in Monroe, were faced with the decision of Jaymi carrying their daughter to full term or undergoing a 'medically necessary' abortion when her baby was diagnosed with a genetic disorder.

However, there are still a great majority of Americans who have deep convictions about the sanctity of life and believe abortion is dreadfully wrong. Adam and Jaymi Stapp are numbered among those who have such strong, God-honoring convictions.

The Stapps are members of Walker Baptist Church in Monroe. Adam has recently been elected to serve the church as a deacon and Jaymi works in the preschool department of the church and is a part of the fellowship committee.

Jaymi stated, "I have attended Walker all my life. I grew up attending church and actually accepted Christ at age 14 while attending a church youth trip to SuperWow."

(SuperWow Camps are provided as a ministry of the Georgia Baptist Convention Youth Ministry and funded by the Cooperative Program. Five weeks of SuperWow Camps are offered each summer: three weeks in Jekyll Island and two more weeks in Fort Walton Beach.)

Adam started attending the Monroe church with his family when he was six years old and made a profession of faith at age twelve. Adam and Jaymi also attended the same high school and began dating as teenagers. Five years later they were married.

Jaymi explained, "After two years of marriage we decided to extend our family. Shortly after that decision was made I got pregnant, but the pregnancy resulted in a miscarriage. As sad as we were, we knew that God was in control of that situation.

Jaymi continued, "Our desire to have children was not diminished by the miscarriage and we continued to trust God to provide us with a child. In 2005 I gave birth to a beautiful, healthy, baby boy, who we named Jed."

In November of 2008 Adam and Jaymi excitedly announced to their families and friends they were expecting again and that the new addition to the family would be arriving in May of 2009.

"Doctor visits were going well," admitted Jaymi, "and the heartbeats were strong. There were no reasons for concern. We did all the usual blood tests, but at 19 weeks we received a call that one of the tests was abnormal.

"The doctor assured us this happens sometimes and there was no need to worry, but that a Level 2 ultrasound at 20 weeks should provide additional information. As Adam and I watched the monitor in the ultrasound room, we both started to get a little nervous.

"There was cause for concern because there was very little amniotic fluid which resulted in an unusual ultrasound.

"The doctor finally came to share the news that our baby had something called Trisomy 18, or Edwards Syndrome."

Trisomy 18 is a genetic disorder associated with the presence of extra material from chromosome 18. It is a relatively common syndrome affecting approximately one out of 3,000 live births and can, among other things, cause congenital heart disease and kidney problems.

Jaymi's baby had polycystic kidneys, which was the result of the low amniotic fluid. The doctor explained that the low amniotic fluid would prevent the lungs from properly developing in the womb and suggested the baby growing inside of Jaymi would probably never make it to birth.

Jaymi remarked, "He then proceeded to tell us our options. He said that we could just let the baby die in utero or have a 'medically necessary' abortion. The doctor then told us he would let us go to make our decision and we could let our regular obstetrician know what we had decided.

"Heartbroken and very upset, Adam and I got in the car, looked at each other, and knew there was no decision to be made. Our baby still had a heartbeat. We made an appointment with our regular doctors and firmly told them abortion was not an option for us and we had placed the situation in God's hand."

Stapps Family/Special

Pastor Joe Box, left, of Walker Baptist Church in Monroe, talks with Jaymi and Adam Stapps. Box counseled the Stapps after a diagnosis revealed a genetic disorder in the couple's unborn daughter. "I was truly amazed at the resolve displayed by Adam and Jaymi as they faced their situation," he said.

During the days that followed the Stapps had a talk with their pastor, Jeff Box, and shared their news with family and friends. Jaymi revealed, "We spent the next 15 weeks praying and trusting that God would see us through this storm."

Pastor Box recalled the visit from the Stapps by stating, "That day, as we sat in my office, we read Scripture, prayed, and talked about the sanctity of life and the incredible power and providence of God.

"I was truly amazed at the resolve displayed by Adam and Jaymi as they faced their situation. They chose to honor God in the midst of their circumstances and cherish every moment that God gave them with the precious little girl growing in her mommy's womb."

The next day, Adam posted a note on Facebook about the situation. He wrote, "Every kid is a blessing whether he/she is perfectly healthy or stricken with an awful disease/disorder that makes them handicap for their entire life. I do know there is a reason behind everything.

"God has a plan for every one of us and how He plans on using us in His plan is for us to figure out. God gives us trials that we will face in our lifetime and it is up to us to determine how we are going to handle the situation. I hope this trial that we have encountered will bring us closer to God and stronger in our faith."

Amazingly, subsequent doctor's visits were positive and the baby's heartbeats were strong. A date in late April was established for a C-section birth due to the baby being in a breech position. However, Jaymi went into labor on April 16 and a very nervous and apprehensive Adam took her to the hospital late that evening.

The Stapps had decided to name their little girl Maggie Faith and early the next morning the child was born. Jaymi recalled, "Our prayers were answered, because our baby was born alive. Although she lived only a few hours, there was no greater joy than to hold our baby girl. She squeezed Adam's finger and opened her eyes one last time to look up at me before going to live with our heavenly Father.

"Our pastor, family, friends, and church members came by the hospital to offer their prayers and support; and we got to share our sweet baby with them during their visits. Our brief time with Maggie provided precious moments that we will forever cherish - moments we would have never experienced if we had taken the path suggested by the doctor rather than the path prescribed by God's Word."

Jaymi concluded, "We spent a lot of time reading Psalm 139:13-16 and reflecting on its truths. I believe life begins at conception and that life is special to God. I believe abortion is wrong.

"Had I listened to the doctor's recommendation I wouldn't have the wonderful memories and the beautiful pictures of Maggie we had taken. Because we treated this pregnancy as any normal pregnancy, we live today guilt-free and full of peace."