“This is an open letter to a mother who recently gave 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 to a 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 with Down syndrome during a global раndемιc.

At 5 a.m. on June 7, after nearly a day of labor and dilation, I was informed, ‘Your 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 daughter is in a posterior position.’ I was hurried to the operating room for a C-section. Within twenty-five minutes, my daughter was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧, but neither my husband nor I were aware. We did not hear a scream and saw only a room full of physicians. I immediately realized something was amiss.

My infant daughter was removed from me. I could only see the top of her head. My heart fell and I sobbed uncontrollably. I wondered, “What could have possibly happened to my 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥?” She was transported to intensive care. I was unable to embrace my new𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥. The event I had anticipated for the past nine months did not occur, and I feared I would never experience it. You are unable to think of anything else but the worst possible thoughts. Did you know that one in four security intrusions goes undetected?

Immediately following surgery, I was transferred to a private room for recovery, and a few hours later, my husband and I were summoned to intensive care. The hospital was kind enough to permit our parents to visit our new𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 daughter. It appeared as if this would be the first and last time they would see her, as it was uncertain whether she was still alive. Keep in mind that my spouse was only permitted to be by my side during the раndемιc. The presence of our parents was an indication that our daughter was ill.