An Irish couple are live-tweeting their trip to Liverpool for an abortion in a bid to highlight the risks they are undertaking “to do the most humane thing possible to a baby that will never survive.”
The couple, who have not been named, took to Twitter to explain that during their first prenatal appointment they were offered a genetic screening test - their firstborn has a genetic condition and there was always the risk that future children would also be effected.
— Heartbroken&Punished (@itstimetorepeal) November 5, 2016
Sadly, following testing, their baby was diagnosed with Edwards syndrome – a condition which means the “period of life would be counted in the minutes and hours after birth”.
“It is a crushing sentence for any person to hear let alone for my wife who has had to give up her career to become a full time carer for our little boy,” they wrote.
“We should be telling our friends and relatives about our joyous news at just over twelve weeks instead we are now past the point of being able to go to a hospital in the UK so we had to make arrangements to visit a clinic [sic].”
In less than 12 hours we will begin our journey. We don't know what to expect but we do know we won't be alone. #itstimetorepeal
— Heartbroken&Punished (@itstimetorepeal) November 9, 2016
Explaining their reasons for tweeting their journey, the couple said that they want to help those who have found themselves in a similar situation and to highlight the risks involved in having to travel abroad at an already traumatic time.
"We hope that this may enlighten those who do not want to listen or even allow the people of this country to decide for themselves.
“Our Government has continually kicked the can down the road and we the people must decide if we can allow this to happen.
"We hope that by documenting our experience [we] may help those that may have been through something similar or may be unfortunate enough to do so in the future.”
Stage one almost complete. Do we tell him we're going to Liverpool ? What for ? Because our country doesn't care. #itstimetorepeal pic.twitter.com/vIVOVdsLMf
— Heartbroken&Punished (@itstimetorepeal) November 10, 2016
Just in time.. #itstimetorepeal pic.twitter.com/YZQQKWf1NG
— Heartbroken&Punished (@itstimetorepeal) November 10, 2016
Always buy a book for every journey, that way you will always remember.. #itstimetorepeal pic.twitter.com/C2JY0NHCdF
— Heartbroken&Punished (@itstimetorepeal) November 10, 2016
It's hard for us, imagine making this journey on your own like the thousands of women that made it before us & others that will have to.. pic.twitter.com/YAzgVs9DmS
— Heartbroken&Punished (@itstimetorepeal) November 10, 2016
Goodbye Dublin.. #ItsTimeToRepeal pic.twitter.com/RHamjF9ElS
— Heartbroken&Punished (@itstimetorepeal) November 10, 2016
Suitably miserably day in Liverpool.. #ItsTimeToRepeal pic.twitter.com/kOa3u5XCF1
— Heartbroken&Punished (@itstimetorepeal) November 10, 2016
Planes, trains and automobiles.. how can our government sit idly by and let its people go through this.. #itstimetorepeal pic.twitter.com/5sinSJ8Zv9
— Heartbroken&Punished (@itstimetorepeal) November 10, 2016
We have arrived. Forms filled in and shown to the waiting room that's almost full. Deathly quiet only broken by some very familiar accents..
— Heartbroken&Punished (@itstimetorepeal) November 10, 2016
Just discovered we should have been sent to a different room, one for women with FFA's buts there's no space for us.. #itstimetorepeal
— Heartbroken&Punished (@itstimetorepeal) November 10, 2016
What a truly heartbreaking journey this couple are currently undergoing.
