Sanctimoniously Playing God

"They were both visibly upset. The mother was crying. They said they didn't want to bring a baby into the world only for that child to suffer. They said I should try to be God-like and have mercy on the child and let her go. I told them that they had chosen me to carry and protect this child, and that was exactly what I was going to do. I told them it wasn't their decision to play God."
"That was not something I was comfortable with. I wanted to do surrogacy to bring a child into a loving, happy home, not to have her being placed in the care of the state and being forgotten in a foster home."
"There is a definite possibility that she could live until she is old. There is a high death rate in the first year, but she is already nine months."
"I think I did what was right for her. I gave her a chance that no one else was prepared to give her. I am proud I stood up for what I believe was right."
Crystal Kelley, surrogate mother

Doctors said, after an ultra-sound had been conducted at 21 weeks into the pregnancy, that the fetus Crystal Kelley was carrying as a surrogate mother on behalf of a couple whose frozen fertilized embryo that resulted from in vitro fertilization was diagnosed with a cleft lip and palate, a cyst in its brain, and a heart abnormality. The baby would survive birth, said doctors. But there was a mere 25% chance she would have a "normal life". The baby would require several heart operations.

The couple, on learning of the situation, attempted to persuade Crystal Kelley, 30, and a mother of two toddlers herself, that it would be best if she underwent an abortion procedure. She refused, and the couple retained a lawyer. Who communicated with Ms. Kelley, reminding her that she had signed a contract agreeing to "abortion in case of severe fetus abnormality". But she would have none of it, despite the lawyer writing: "You are obligated to terminate this pregnancy immediately. You have squandered precious time."

"Given the ultrasound findings, [the parents] feel that the interventions required to manage [the baby's medical problems] are overwhelming for an infant, and that it is a more humane option to consider pregnancy termination." The intended parents had informed Ms. Kelley they would accept the child, but would then undertake to have her placed in foster care.  Which solution also did not please Ms. Kelley.

She moved to a state that did not recognize surrogacy contracts; Michigan, where she is considered to be the baby's legal mother. The child, identified as Baby S is in the care of a couple who have had experience caring for disabled children. The baby will need major heart surgery and additional operations to repair her cleft palate.