Jesse Ridgway Says He Ended Pregnancy After Trisomy 21 Diagnosis, Igniting Online Debate
Updated
Updated · The Daily Wire · Jun 4
Jesse Ridgway Says He Ended Pregnancy After Trisomy 21 Diagnosis, Igniting Online Debate
3 articles · Updated · The Daily Wire · Jun 4
Summary
Jesse Ridgway said he and his wife terminated a pregnancy after tests showed their baby had Down syndrome, turning the disclosure into a viral flashpoint online.
Trisomy 21 was confirmed by amniocentesis after the couple had earlier learned of a 95% chance, and they said fears of heart defects, structural abnormalities and a shorter lifespan drove the decision.
Ashley Ridgway is recuperating after the procedure, while the couple described themselves as emotionally drained by what they called a difficult choice.
The backlash and support around Ridgway’s post quickly widened into a broader argument over disability, prenatal screening and the value placed on lives with Down syndrome.