When Marie MacPherson, a mother of two, finds herself unexpectedly
pregnant at thirty-nine, she feels guilty. Her best friend, Elizabeth,
has never been able to conceive, despite years of fertility treatments.
Marie's dilemma is further complicated when she becomes convinced
something is wrong with her baby. She then enters the world of genetic
testing and is entirely unprepared for the decision that lies ahead.
Friends
for over 30 years, Elizabeth and Marie have faced their share of joys
and sorrows and have always managed to remain close, in spite of their
differences. They tell each other everything, sharing their lives with
each other, relying on their closeness to help them through tough
times. That is, until Marie gets unexpectedly pregnant with her third
child at 39 years old. her other two daughters, aged 10 & 12 adore
their 'aunt' Elizabeth, almost more than they adore their own mother.
In spite of the two women's desire to raise their children together,
Elizabeth has never been able to conceive a child even after trying for
years, naturally at first, then through several rounds of invitro.
Marie knows her friend longs for a baby of her own and is afraid to
reveal her surprise pregnancy. She tries to tell herself that she's
afraid the baby will have something wrong with it and doesn't want to
reveal the secret too early. Really she's worried how Elizabeth will
react. She knows the pain it will inevitably cause. However, not being
able to talk about it with her best friend weighs on her heart. She
tries more than once to start the conversation that would lead to her
confession, but every time decides it not the right time. She ends up
waiting too long and one afternoon Elizabeth guesses the truth. Marie,
relieved she didn't have to say the words, nevertheless apologizes
because she feels guilty to be having yet another baby while her friend
has never had one.
"I think I'm a little old for an unplanned pregnancy, don't you?" she says after her initial apology.
Marie
knows the news has hurt her friend, even though Elizabeth tries to hide
it. She admits to herself that their friendship has changed with the
birth of her other two children. She hopes it can withstand the third
one.
Trying to be happy for her best friend Elizabeth
can't help the tears from falling as she leaves the happy family. She's
bitter, angry, and overcome by all her years of trying, of hormones and
needles and doctors and implanted embryo's that continually fail to
make her body their home. She knows it's not right to blame her
husband, but feels a deep need to change, escape.
"All
[she] ever wanted was to be a mother, and... when [they] finally decided
to stop the treatments [she] had to let go of that dream... [She's] not
living the life [she] thought [she'd]be at this stage in [her]life..."
Elizabeth makes a plan to implement the changes she thinks are
necessary. She takes time away from her husband, from Marie, from
Marie's daughters and growing fetus.
Marie, after a
dream, becomes convinced that something is wrong with her baby. She
knows that her advanced age means certain risks, including the baby's
risk of having Down Syndrome. She goes to the doctor where she is
informed they can't test for it for another couple months. She
discusses the options with her husband as they decide what to do if the
baby tests positive.
"We can't... make any decisions
until we know... if we end the pregnancy now would we be deciding not to
have another child because we really didn't want one, or because we were afraid it wasn't well?"
"I don't see what difference that would make," her husband, Barry, replies.
Every
day closer to that test brings more and more tension to the couple.
Marie feels it's all up to her to decide the fate of their child. She
doesn't dare confide in Elizabeth, even though she desperately needs
to. She knows that no matter what pain she is going through Elizabeth
has had her share of it with every failed attempt. Finally Elizabeth
calls her and invites Marie and the girls over for lunch. Marie feels
irrationally jealous, convinced that her girls like their beautiful,
care-free, unharried aunt better. Barry suggests the girls stay home,
knowing that his wife misses her friend dearly. Marie agrees and goes
for lunch at her best friend's house alone.
Two weeks
before the test Marie's daughters notice their mothers pregnancy. Marie
cringes at the questions they spew at her. She was hoping to have made
a decision about the baby before they found out. She knows they'd love
a new baby in the house, and she knows they'll be sad if the child is
unwell. She doesn't want to disappoint them, and cannot hide her
growing frame from them any longer. She confirms the pregnancy and
hopes they won't become too heart broken if the baby doesn't come home.
The day of her test arrives followed shortly by the test results. The announcement is devastating.
"Are you sure there hasn't been some mistake," Barry asks. "How accurate is this test anyway?"
"About 98%," the doctor replies.
Barry
asks about the procedure, if Marie has to stay overnight. Marie is
told she that if they chose to terminate the pregnancy she'll be induced
and will have to go through labour to deliver the unfortunate child.
'There would be no reward for the pain. Nothing to look forward to
after her body emptied itself of its burden.'
She calls
Elizabeth and they agree to meet for coffee. Marie finds herself
confessing everything. Elizabeth suggests she sleep on it, take her
time considering her options. Marie reveals that she doesn't have the
time she needs. She's too far along. It'll soon be too late to
terminate.
Elizbeth feels there is an easy solution to the problem.
'Words
rose unbidden to Elizabeth's mouth. Her lips parted, "I'll take the
child...I know it sounds crazy... but if you don't want the baby and you
don't want to abort it either, give her to me. Let me raise her for
you."
Marie is stunned and flee's the coffee shop, flees the suggestion, flees her friend.
'This
decision was likely going to be the biggest turning point in her life.
She would need to live with herself afterwards, no matter what action
she decided to take.'
Both husbands are shocked at what
Elizabeth has proposed. They both agree it's an outrageous request.
Both of them insist it can't or won't happen that way.
Marie asks Barry, "... Are we going for what's easy, or what's right?"
Everything
comes down to Marie. Her options are laid out before her, the question
becomes which path is best. She considers the choices, wonders how
she'll feel if she kills the child, wonders how she'll feel if she gives
it away. There is only one clear answer, she knows the child isn't
coming home with her. Will her decision affect her marriage? Her
friendship with Elizabeth? Marie feels utterly alone as she finally
makes her choice.
The Unfinished Child is an
eye-opening account of what it means to be a child with Down syndrome.
It's a story of tough decisions, of life lessons and relationships.
It's a tale that shows how each person can be admired and envied for
different things, and that the life we think we want doesn't always turn
out how we expect it to. The novel has a depth that goes beyond the
two families, that shines a light on human connections and the power of
family. It's a story of friendship surviving the worst. The Unfinished
Child will move into your heart and have you questioning the very
things you thought you knew and often take for granted.
Click here to purchase The Unfinished Child.
