I just love doing these. It delights me to see how other writers think. I hope you will want to finish this story.
Jennifer and Jerome had been married for five years and not been able to conceive. Because they were Jewish, as a part of their genetic workup before starting infertility treatment, they learned that Jennifer carried a recessive gene for Tays-Sachs Disease, a fatal degenerative of the brain and spinal cord. Jerome did not carry the gene. They were relieved to learn their children would not be affected.
During a rough patch in their marriage, Jennifer had a brief affair with a coworker in her Baton Rouge office. She ended the affair, confided her indiscretion to Jerome, and they decided to reconcile and go ahead with infertility treatment. Following a negative pregnancy test, Jennifer had invitro fertilization. In days, Jennifer’s pregnancy was confirmed. Upon ultrasound, the doctor was concerned her fetus was larger expected. Follow up lab confirmed the fetus was positive for Tay-Sachs Disease, Her pregnancy had resulted from her affair. Finish the story.
Nutsrok 
Jennifer was in shock, how could this Tays-Sachs disease was suppose to be rare, that’s what they had been told, what was the odds of someone else in their pretty small town would be a carrier of this gene.
Jerome had ranted and raved about the baby not being his, but after calming down a bit they talked about what to do terminate and try again or carry on and do the best they could for the child
Jen decided to talk it over with her mum which she did but as soon as Jen mentioned the name of the man she had the affair with he mum went pale and started saying no, no, no over and over again. Jen was shocked to see how distraught her mother was and wanted to know what was wrong.
Her mother took a deep breathe and said he is my son. your half brother and you both inherited that gene from me.
Her mum went on to explain that she had that baby when she was young and unmarried, she hadn’t met Jen’s father yet, after giving birth her parents arranged for the baby to be taken in by some good friends. Those people had moved away from the town for a number of years but ended up returning by that time Jen’s mother had met and married her father and even though she knew who her son was, he was mostly not someone she thought of.
When Jen told Jerome all of this they decided to terminate and try again.
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Oh my gosh. What a twist. Can I print your comment? I can do it anonymously or credit you. Good choice. I had a relative who brought his fiancée home to meet his family. His father called him to the side and told him why he couldn’t marry her. He’t been cheating on his wife with her mother. It put a stop to their romance and ended two marriages. My cousin joined the air force, married a woman he met in Spain and never really had a relationship with his father again, but at least he didn’t marry his sister.
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Of course you can print it and credit me, I am pleased you liked what I wrote
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I think you could write fiction. I like your approach to problems.
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Thank you for those kind words
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I always look forward to what you write.
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Jerome was shocked and angered that the baby wasn’t his and the child would have a horrific time while alive. He thought for a few days about the situation and sat Jennifer down to discuss an abortion. He tried to reason with her about the reality of the child’s painful life and not being able to care for themself. She was outraged, how could he ask her to get an abortion, this was a baby that needed love and care. Jerome was furious and said he was filing for divorce, and let her hold the man who she slept with pay for the child. Another lesson from the story is a child carries both parent’s genes so if they had done IVF, the outcome would be the same. Jennifer married the guy from the office and they built a family even if the baby’s life was short. Not my best one, tough topic.
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This is tough. I actually knew of a case where this happened. In this case, the couple stayed together, had the baby. She split leaving the poor baby and her children by a previous marriage with her long-suffering husband. The poor baby lived three terrible years.
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That’s tough running away like that and leaving your children. I can’t imagine. Of course I can’t imagine the difficulty of taking care of a special needs child. If you decide to keep it, you need to love it and take care of it.
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It’s a terrible struggle and an awful situation for the sick child and family.
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It is. Is it okay if I post? It can be anonymous or I can cite you?
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You can publish as is, I’m proud of who I am and what I believe.
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I thought you’d say that, dear friend.
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We’re both strong headed. Who cares what others think.
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So true! We both know what’s right.
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Jennifer knew there would be no hiding that the baby wasn’t Jerome’s and that the affair had indeed continued though she claimed it was over. Jennifer knew it would all come out not only to her husband, but to her congregation, family and friends. Jennifer couldn’t risk using any form of birth control while undergoing IVF and figured since she hadn’t gotten pregnant in over 5 years with Jerome, she wouldn’t conceive with her co-worker lover.
Was she ever so wrong. Jennifer wondered if this was God’s way of punishing her for lying to Jerome and continuing with her affair. She feared Jerome would leave her and she feared what this disease would mean for her unborn child. She loved her baby, but didn’t want to bring him/her into this world, especially knowing in her heart of hearts what her life would look like once the truth came out.
Jennifer made an appointment for an abortion. She figured she’d just tell Jerome she miscarried. She vowed to end her love affair and once her body had healed she would begin IVF again.
The morning came for the abortion. Jennifer got dressed and took a cab to the clinic. She walked inside and signed in. She took her seat and waited to be called back. As she sat there contemplating the pain she had caused her unborn child, her husband, her lover, family and friends, she looked around at the young girls sitting there waiting their turn on the cold metal table where lives would end before then even began.
“Jennifer,” the nurse called. Jennifer stood up and walked towards the nurse. The smell of sedation covered the air. She begun to shiver as her walked slowed to nearly a standstill. The nurse looked at her and asked if she was alright. Jennifer nodded yes.
Once through the door to the procedure room Jennifer began to cry. The nurse put her arm around her and said, “honey, it’ll be okay. You don’t have to do this. No matter what is going on in your life, God will take care of you, just have faith.”
Jennifer began bawling and cried out, “I can’t do this.” The nurse told her to go home and pray. “You can always make another appointment in a couple weeks. Just don’t wait more then 3 weeks, otherwise, the abortion won’t be able to be done.”
Jennifer acknowledged what the nurse told her and started walking faster and faster until she was free and outside.
Once outside she felt a huge burden lift from her core. She walked to a nearby park and fell to her knees begging God to forgive her and begging for guidance, strength and understanding.
Jennifer spent most of the afternoon in the park. She had no more tears left. She got up and walked the long walk home. Jerome was frantically pacing the floor not knowing where his wife had been. Jennifer collapsed into his arms. She poured out her heart to him and begged him yet again to forgive her.
Jerome began to sob as he embraced his wife. “I’ve known all along you didn’t end the affair, but I had hoped you had stopped sleeping with him during the IVF process. Now we’ll have a child that will enter our lives and leave it almost as quickly as he/she came into it. This babies survival rate is at best 4-5 years.
Jennifer looked at Jerome in bewilderment. “You’re not leaving me even though the babies not yours?” “No, I’m not leaving you and I’m not leaving this baby either.”
“I am here for as long as this baby is alive but no promises after that. You’ve hurt me so deeply.”
Months passed by and Jennifer went into labor. Jerome rushed her to the hospital where she delivered a 9 pound 15 ounce healthy baby boy. The unborn child’s ultra sound was read incorrectly. The baby didn’t have Tay-Sachs Disease.
Jennifer was beside herself and couldn’t help but reflect on what she had almost done, abort her baby to cover a lie.
Jerome was instantly in love with his son and vowed to stay with Jennifer as long as she promised to stay faithful from that moment on. He had forgiven her and she learned a lesson in integrity, honesty along with faith and courage.
The baby was found out to be Jerome’s after all.
God does work in mysterious ways from time to time.
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Great story. You need to write fiction.
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I have thought about it. Looking into some writing conferences now. Hoping to join a few.
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Unfortunately Jennifer miscarried the baby and two years later became pregnant through IVF
This kptehnsncy was a success and the couple became proud and loving parents of a beautiful baby girl in the fullness of time
The baby was healthy and both Jennifer and Jerome loved her.
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What a good story.
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