Reproductive Rights - The right to say 'No'

This post is an entry into a contest by Indus Ladies to celebrate International Women's Day. For more details, please click here.

Mom, Dad and you, have this one life and so do I. You must explain to me why I should suffer the consequences of the choice you made for your life. Yes, since you are my mother, you suffer too, but you can only see my misery. You cannot feel it like I do. Since I was a young baby, I have undergone several surgeries on my feet to be able to walk the way I do today. I thank you for getting those surgeries done, but God alone knows the quality of genes that I have in my body because of your decision to go ahead with a consanguineous marriage. I don’t know if I can ever lead a fully normal life. Who would like to marry me knowing that I am the product of a marriage of two close relatives? It is common scientific knowledge that such children carry defective genes that lie dormant and if paired with another complimentary gene, manifests itself in their children. The consequences can be disastrous.

When you married, you were too young to know the consequences of such a marriage and discovered what the outcome was, when I came along. The doctors advised you and informed you that my condition was common in children from consanguineous marriages. 14 years later, you have decided to go ahead with another baby? Did you not think it was important to seek the necessary medical help? Did you think it was important to consult some expert in the field of genetic disorders before you decided to have a baby? Even after you conceived, did you not think of getting some relevant tests done? Though you knew that something was just not right about him, my brother was almost two when you discovered that he is suffering from Phenylketonuria. Another genetic disorder, from a consanguineous marriage.

Mom, as a woman, you have the right to decide whether you want to go ahead with a pregnancy or not. Agreed, that your husband wanted another baby. But you also have the right to an opinion. There was no need to bring that baby into this world. You should have armed yourself with knowledge before embarking on that journey.

Everyday his suffering is going to increase as he is growing up. He will also want to eat normal food like normal kids. He will hate you for the tasteless formula that has to be combined with the other ‘acceptable’ foods that he can eat. And, he has to have that kind of food, his whole life! Eating anything out of the ordinary can mean mental retardation. It is going to be a tremendous challenge, not just for you, but him more importantly. It is like walking on glass all your life.

Will I ever be able to marry and lead a ‘normal’ life? Will my brother survive his condition? My life and that of my brother’s will always be replete with suffering just because you did not have the courage to say ‘No.’

The thoughts that are echoed above are that of a young girl who had clubbed feet as a result of consanguineous marriage. She has a brother who was born with phenylketonuria.

This is a true story.

I tag Reflections, The M.I.L. Chronicles and The Song of Life to participate in this contest, create awareness and make this contest a huge success.