Tampa Parents Carry Baby With Anencephaly To Donate heart Valve And Birth Tissue
USA: A Tampa couple chose to carry their unborn daughter to term after a prenatal diagnosis of anencephaly so her organs and tissues could save other lives through transplantation. Andrew Ford and Katherine Morning were told in July that the fetus lacked critical brain development, a congenital condition described in the report as affecting roughly one in 1,000 pregnancies and carried to term far less frequently. Rather than pursue termination, they decided to proceed with the pregnancy with the purpose of donation.
Morning researched options after the diagnosis and was moved by a brief television depiction of another family who made a similar choice. The couple settled on the name Haven while driving through Winter Haven, selecting a name meant to evoke safety and shelter. Their three children and extended family supported the decision as they prepared both emotionally and practically for the delivery and the planned donations.
Haven was delivered at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital, where staff organized an honor walk and the family spent a short, intimate time together before she died on her mother’s chest. The family visited the hospital’s bereavement garden and displayed a sign from a relative that conveyed gratitude and hope that Haven would be a gift to others during the holidays. Hospital personnel packed corridors and played music the family had chosen as part of the farewell.
Tissue and organ recovery included a heart valve transfer and collection of birth-related tissue to help patients with wounds, resulting in multiple lives being helped. Lifelink Tampa described the case as among the first seen locally of parents carrying to term primarily to enable postnatal donation for transplantation. Despite their grief, the family says they would not change their decision, viewing Haven’s brief life as both deeply personal and also a source of life for others.
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