Baby Gammy Doing Well After Couple Wanted Him Aborted Because He Has Down Syndrome

International   |   Sarah Zagorski   |   Jan 20, 2015   |   2:52PM   |   Canberra, Australia

In 2014, LifeNews reported on twin baby Gammy who was abandoned by his biological parents after their surrogate refused abortion. Baby Gammy was born with Down syndrome to Thailand surrogate, Pattamaron Chanbua. After the birth, his parents, David and Wendy Farnell, fled to Australia with his healthy sister; and in August they took to Australia’s “60 Minutes” to defend their decision to abandon their son.

David Farnell, who’s a convicted sex-offender, said that he demanded a refund on his surrogacy fees and would have aborted the baby had he known earlier that his baby had Down syndrome. However, he denies that he ever told Chanbua to have an abortion when she was pregnant with Gammy. Additionally, Farnell claimed that his baby girl Pipah is safe with him despite his past as a sex offender.

gammyHe said, “I am not going to harm my little girl. She [Pipah] will be 100 per cent safe because I know I will do everything in the world to protect my little girl. I have no inclinations … They have 100 per cent stopped. I don’t have this urge to do anything anymore.”

If Chanbua had chosen abortion, Gammy would have been one of the countless babies with Down syndrome who die before they even take their first breath. In fact, some studies show that over 90% of women who receive the prenatal diagnosis that their child will have the condition chooses abortion. Thankfully, Chanbua chose life, and in December, Gammy turned one. Now baby Gammy has been granted Australian citizenship, which will help him receive proper healthcare.

MSN News shares more:

Baby Gammy, who was born with Down’s syndrome to a surrogate mother in Thailand, has been granted Australian citizenship, local media report.

Surrogate mother Pattaramon Chanbua said she sought Australian citizenship to safeguard Gammy’s future. Gammy, who turned one in December, is eligible for Australian citizenship because David Farnell is his biological father.He will now have access to healthcare in Australia and is eligible for an Australian passport.

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Ms. Chanbua, the 21-years-old surrogate mother, claimed that the Farnells wanted Gammy aborted when they found out he had Down’s syndrome, but that was against her Buddhist beliefs.

In a TV interview, the Farnells said after Gammy was born, they wanted to bring both infants home.

Ms Chanbua told the Associated Press that she had then not allowed Gammy to go with them. It was later revealed that David Farnell had child sex convictions, prompting Australia’s Department of Child Protection to launch an investigation in August.

The Farnells retain custody of Pipah but with strict court conditions, according to Australian media reports. Gammy’s case drew donations from around the world which are being managed by an Australian charity and have been used to pay for his hospital bills and a new home for Ms Chanbua’s family.