TX - pregnant wife unresponsive on life support, husband hopes to fulfill her wishes

[Elainera]

WFAA News 8 just had a report in this. Lawyers for the Munoz family have stated that the fetus is not developing normally- lower extremities not growing properly to the extent that gender is unclear, hydrocephalus and a possible heart defect.

I checked the website and the story is not up yet.


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Very sad to read this Poor little thing.

 

[jjenny]

WFAA News 8 just had a report in this. Lawyers for the Munoz family have stated that the fetus is not developing normally- lower extremities not growing properly to the extent that gender is unclear, hydrocephalus and a possible heart defect.

I checked the website and the story is not up yet.


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That sucks.
It doesn't sound like the fetus could ever have a normal life. So this is newest TX abortion law: pregnancy can be aborted until 20 weeks or after if severe abnormalities are diagnosed.
Assuming this information is correct, fetus has severe abnormalities. But she is dead and can not say anything. So what is the state of TX going to do?

"Under a law approved last year, a woman can abort a pregnancy before it reaches 20 weeks or after that if the woman’s life is endangered or severe fetal abnormalities are diagnosed."
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metr...ant-fort-worth-woman-kept-on-life-support.ece

 

[RJA00]

Respectfully snipped.

I have seen 2 preemies fight for life & it's a very scary situation. I have 2 great-nieces both born at 26 weeks 9 years apart. Their mother was healthy in the extreme, but for some reason, she just couldn't carry a baby to term. The oldest is now 12. She has been wearing glasses since age 2 & has chronic asthma, probably due to her premature birth. However nothing slows her down much. She excels in school & has been in gifted & talented programs for several years. The second preemie is now 3 years old. For some reason, probably premature birth, she didn't walk until she was 2 years old........just couldn't get it all figured out. Only within the last 6 months has she talked much at all. Otherwise, she appears fine. She started pre K this year & is apparently doing fine. By the time their 18 month old brother arrived, the doctor finally decided he should take some precautions with this pregnancy. Don't ask me how he finally arrived at this decision. Duh....... He gave my niece steroid shots & she was able to carry the baby to 39 weeks.

My main concerns for the Munoz baby are that its mom is brain dead, was given electrical shock & who knows what else to revive her & no one knows how long the fetus was oxygen deprived.........probably for an extended time. I also worry about it getting the nutrients that it needs. We are also not aware of all the medical methods used just to keep Marlise's heart beating. I just worry about a baby suffering.

BTW, my second preemie great niece was born 90 miles away from the nearest NICU. Care flight couldn't operate because of extremely stormy weather. That same stormy weather also kept the ambulance from traveling at great speed so I'm sure we are doubly blessed that she survived with as few problems as she did.

My son was born at 26 weeks also, The bio mother had toxilogy (sp) he was less than 2 pounds. He sounds just your second niece. slow to walk and talk, but otherwise he is fine. He is 9 years old now and doing great.

after this case, I am 44 don't plan on anymore babies but, my husband knows that if the baby heart is beating keep me hooked up to whatever you can, give the baby a chance. ( I really don't think my hubby would take me off even if i said no) the baby should have rights.

My husband always says no machine, let me go. I asked him a question, lets just say you were caring a baby would you still say no machine. He said that cant happen but yes, leave me on the machine.

so, how does anybody what her wishes were if she was pregant, nobody knows, I say most would want to save the baby

 

[Elainera]

That sucks.
It doesn't sound like the fetus could ever have a normal life.

Actually it sounds it might not live at all.

 

[K_Z]

"[T]he fetus is distinctly abnormal," said Muñoz family attorneys Heather King and Jessica Janicek in the statement. "Even at this early stage, the lower extremities are deformed to the extent that the gender cannot be determined."

The attorneys say the fetus has hydrocephalus (water on the brain), and a possible heart problem, though details can't be determined "due to the immobile nature of Mrs. Muñoz's deceased body."

http://www.wfaa.com/news/health/Munoz-lawyers-statement-241550881.html

If this is true, this child has little to no chance of survival. I guess the experimental gestation didn't go as well as many had hoped. Truly a tragedy, at every level.

Except for the extremist pro life movement. This will be lauded as a success, IMO.

 

[jjenny]

http://www.wfaa.com/news/health/Munoz-lawyers-statement-241550881.html

If this is true, this child has little to no chance of survival. I guess the experimental gestation didn't go as well as many had hoped.

No, it didn't.
But apparently it went just as some hoped.

 

[Linda7NJ]

No, it didn't.

But apparently it went just as some hoped.

"Hoped"??
Really?
I do not believe anyone hoped for this outcome.


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[dh109977]

WFAA News 8 just had a report in this. Lawyers for the Munoz family have stated that the fetus is not developing normally- lower extremities not growing properly to the extent that gender is unclear, hydrocephalus and a possible heart defect.

I checked the website and the story is not up yet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Poor baby. What will happen now?

 

[jjenny]

Poor baby. What will happen now?

I guess we will find out on Friday.

 

[jjenny]

Actually it sounds it might not live at all.

Neither of the conditions are necessarily fatal. Fetus could very well live with severe abnormalities. Some might be able to be corrected surgically. But if it's so abnormal I think the best at this point would be to turn off life support before it reaches 24 weeks. However this is TX and the judge was appointed by Perry.

 

[jaxibear]

No, it didn't.
But apparently it went just as some hoped.

I don't think anyone, no matter what side they are on, "hoped" for this. Some may have expected it, but I see no evidence that anyone wants that baby to be anything but healthy if the pregnancy continues. JMHO.

 

[jjenny]

I don't think anyone, no matter what side they are on, "hoped" for this. Some may have expected it, but I see no evidence that anyone wants that baby to be anything but healthy if the pregnancy continues. JMHO.

I found a lot of cases where normal children were produced despite mother being brain dead. In this case the mother must have been too long without oxygen.

 

[Elainera]

Neither of the conditions are necessarily fatal. Fetus could very well live with severe abnormalities. Some might be able to be corrected surgically. But if it's so abnormal I think the best at this point would be to turn off life support before it reaches 24 weeks. However this is TX and the judge was appointed by Perry.

bbm - On their own maybe not. But together and in combination with a premature birth they very well might be. And who knows how far the extent of the lower body abnormality goes. It sounds like the lower part of the body didn't develop at all.

Oh God, poor thing. I feel so sad for this little life

 

[Marg from Oz]

I don't really understand why he would say that, why he claims he doesn't know the condition of his baby. Does he not want to know or is the hospital refusing to tell him? Or does he know but doesn't want to discuss it publicly?

Is he allowed to see his (dead) wife? And if so, is he visiting her or is he keeping away?

All very good questions.

 

[faw720]

That sucks.
It doesn't sound like the fetus could ever have a normal life. So this is newest TX abortion law: pregnancy can be aborted until 20 weeks or after if severe abnormalities are diagnosed.
Assuming this information is correct, fetus has severe abnormalities. But she is dead and can not say anything. So what is the state of TX going to do?

"Under a law approved last year, a woman can abort a pregnancy before it reaches 20 weeks or after that if the woman’s life is endangered or severe fetal abnormalities are diagnosed."
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metr...ant-fort-worth-woman-kept-on-life-support.ece

Who knows what the state of Texas is going to do?????? I live here & I sure can't tell you because what the state does, doesn't always make sense.

I will repeat what I said in an earlier post. I do respect this judge, no matter his decision, for assigning this case to himself rather than pawning it off on another judge. Regardless of any decision, it is going to result in a firestorm in spite of the condition of the baby. At least the judge is man enough to take the heat himself instead of giving it to someone else to take the fall.

 

[jjenny]

bbm - On their own maybe not. But together and in combination with a premature birth they very well might be. And who knows how far the extent of the lower body abnormality goes. It sounds like the lower part of the body didn't develop at all.

Oh God, poor thing. I feel so sad for this little life

The lower limbs didn't develop properly, not the whole lower part of the body. I don't think the conditions are fatal. But fetus having numerous abnormalities to me seems like the worse possible outcome.

"We are in receipt of medical records providing more specific information regarding the condition of the fetus. The Munoz and Machado families feel this information is highly private and extremely sensitive, and although we believe it has no legal relevance to the pending litigation, we believe just as strongly that there be absolutely no misconception about the condition of the fetus or the status of Marlise Munoz's deceased body. According to the medical records we have been provided, the fetus is distinctly abnormal. Even at this early stage, the lower extremities are deformed to the extent that the gender cannot be determined. The fetus suffers from hydrocephalus. It also appears that there are further abnormalities, including a possible heart problem, that cannot be specifically determined due to the immobile nature of Mrs. Munoz's deceased body."

Read more: http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/24523...regnant-woman-fetus-is-abnormal#ixzz2rAoNoNN3

 

[Elainera]

jjenny, if they cannot even determine gender the deformity must somehow involve the lower body as well, was my thinking.

 

[jjenny]

jjenny, if they cannot even determine gender the deformity must somehow involve the lower body as well, was my thinking.

I am thinking the legs are bend in a way that prevents them from seeing gender.

 

[Elainera]

That's also possible. Hope so! (Better than what I imagined!)

 

[Elainera]

From the link above, what does this mean:

"It also appears that there are further abnormalities, including a possible heart problem, that cannot be specifically determined due to the immobile nature of Mrs. Munoz's deceased body."