A Woman Who Was Told to Abort Her Baby Because He Didn’t Have Arms Calls Her Son “The Greatest Gift”

Mariaan Strauss, a 25-year-old mother, was advised to terminate her pregnancy due to her unborn child’s abnormalities. However, her son, Hendré, has proven to be the “greatest gift they could have received,” transforming their lives in a positive way.

Doctors called a young mother “selfish” when she refused to abort her baby.

Mariaan Strauss, 25, and her husband Hendrik Strauss, 26, were filled with excitement when they discovered Mariaan’s pregnancy. However, at the 13-week ultrasound, they received distressing news— their baby was not developing arms.

Their doctors suggested terminating the pregnancy, but they couldn’t reconcile with that decision. Mariaan expressed her concerns, saying, “Society is cruel ... I thought, ’Will our child ever be accepted?’” She shared the haunting words of her specialist, “You’re selfish if you don’t abort. You must think of the child. He will never be able to have a normal quality of life.”

Anger, self-blame, and pain overwhelmed the young mother. But despite both working full-time and understanding the challenges of raising a child with a physical disability, the Strausses were resolute in their decision to embrace their baby boy.

Despite the joy of welcoming their child, Mariaan was also depressed.

In June of 2022, Mariaan gave birth to her son, Hendré. However, it took several months for her to feel secure in her decision. Mariaan recalled, “We cried because it was such a beautiful moment. Then the big, dark depression hit me.”

She questioned, “Why us? Why our child? You pray, and you ask for a healthy child, but then this happens. But if I had to choose today, I would take him just like that, again. Without arms.”

Regrettably, Hendré was born with additional complications. His foot turned inward, necessitating the use of a plaster cast. Furthermore, he was born without a fibula, and his stomach did not develop properly, restricting his milk intake to 30 milliliters at a time. Hendré requires constant care, spending 2 nights a week at his aunt’s home and another 2 nights with Mariaan’s mother, who also cares for him during the day.

Despite his physical limitations, Hendré has developed perfectly.

The parents’ concerns for their son dissipated as they experienced immense joy when their baby boy achieved the milestone of rolling over and independently moving around at 3 months.

Mariaan expressed relief, saying, “When Hendré was 3 months old, he taught himself to roll from place to place, and it was like a cloud lifted. I realized my child was OK, then I was OK, and the depression went away.” The proud father adds, “If he wants to get to a toy on the other side of the room, he moves or pulls his little legs under him and pushes himself forward.”

The couple has decided to postpone considering prosthetics for Hendré until he is older. Their intention is to remind society that it is perfectly acceptable to deviate from the conventional definition of “normal.”

Despite all possible limitations, every child is unique and deserves to live. Just like Mariaan, another mom named Jennisan, who was prepared to meet her son in the delivery room, received news that he was born with limb differences. But rather than feeling overwhelmed or broken, Jennisan and her husband embraced a different, inspiring path.