(Texas Right to Life) Last week Woodlands Church senior pastors and best-selling authors, Kerry and Chris Shook, shared an urgent prayer request on their Facebook page. Their son Josh and his wife Kelli had learned that their preborn son suffers from a fatal kidney disease. Doctors pressured Josh and Kelli to abort their son, whom they named Jude.
Kerry and Chris wrote:
The doctor gave them the option to terminate the pregnancy but they have chosen to fight for Jude’s life, no matter the length.
We know at this time that medically the outlook for Jude is not good. But we also know that only God has the final say and we believe He still works miracles.
As church members and friends read and shared the post thousands of times, prayers spread. That’s when Kerry and Chris say a miracle occurred. Doctors were able to offer hope for baby Jude.
The family was connected with specialists in Cincinnati, Ohio, who are developing research to treat Jude’s rare kidney disorder. After numerous tests, ultrasounds, and appointments, Kelli and baby Jude were accepted into the research program.
Throughout the remainder of Kelli’s pregnancy, doctors will provide experimental procedures for Jude with the hopes that he can grow and develop. Once Jude is born, he might have difficulty breathing and he will need dialysis. Kerry and Chris said, “This is the beginning of a long journey, but we are so thankful that the Lord has provided a path for Josh and Kelli.”
This week, Kelli underwent surgery to have an amnioport placed in her abdomen, which will provide the fluid that Jude needs for the rest of the pregnancy. Jude will need continued infusions every few days, which carry further risks. The most concerning risks are of infection or premature birth. Nonetheless, through all the obstacles ahead, Jude has a chance at Life because his parents courageously chose Life.
Proud grandparents Kerry and Chris added, “We have had thousands of people all over the world praying for our sweet Jude, who has already changed our hearts and lives in big ways.” Simply by being alive, Jude has touched many lives.
In Texas, pain-capable preborn babies are protected from the gruesome violence of abortion after 20 weeks’ gestation. There is, however, a deadly loophole. Under current Texas law, babies who may suffer from a disability, such as Down syndrome or Jude’s kidney disorder, can be killed through abortion at any time. Many medical conditions are not detected until a comprehensive ultrasound at 20 weeks, as was the case for Josh and Kelli. Parents facing a diagnosis are given little information about the full spectrum of care and are sadly often strongly pressured to abort. Josh and Kelli give us a beautiful example of what can happen when we give Life a chance. Texas Right to Life will continue to fight at the Capitol until ALL innocent lives are protected under the law.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published at Texas Right to Life on November 18, 2016, and is reprinted here with permission.
