Handle with care.

I’ve just finished reading Jodi Picoult’s Handle with Care. Of all her books that I’ve read so far, this is the only one that’s struck a chord with me. Quite naturally, given the fact that I too am the mother of a child with health conditions.

The only differences between our family and the one portrayed in the book are: Zoe’s health issues were not discovered until she was born, and I live in a society that is not litigious enough for me to even consider suing the hospital and the ultrasound technician for not picking up Zoe’s issues sooner. And even if the tech had detected the hole in the heart and the absent/extra thumbs, I would not have considered abortion.

First, because her issues are not as seriously debilitating as osteogenesis imperfecta, and second because I know that the guilt of choosing abortion would haunt me for the rest of my life. I would rather cope with the challenges of having a special kid than to live with the decision to get rid of it, because I really don’t need to add on to my existing emotional baggage. Once a Catholic, always a Catholic, eh.

Anyway, Handle with Care is a good read. Go pick it up if you haven’t already.

October 11, 2009

Posted in Musings and tagged abortion, handle with care, jodi picoult.