A family with an encouraging story about how they rejected abortion for their unborn baby participated in a March for Life to stand up against abortion.
Tricia Roos, the head coach of the Bishop Lynch volleyball team in Dallas, Texas has won three state championships in her seven years as head coach is used to adversity. She’s taught her students about faces challenges on and off the court. But she faced one of the biggest challenges a parent could ever face.
Roos’ baby had Trisomy 18 — a chromosome disorder so bad that doctors recommended she have an abortion because her baby may not survive the pregnancy. But Roos says abortion was not an option.
Trisomy 18 is considered to be incompatible life with life. It is caused by an extra copy of the number 18 chromosome and according to the National Institutes of Health, only half of unborn babies with Trisomy 18 survive labor and delivery. Those who do survive usually have birth defects and are given a poor prognosis. Less than 10% will live to see their first birthday.
“She probably won’t survive,” Roos said before little Annabelle was born. “And I’ll probably have a miscarriage or a still birth. Or if I’m lucky enough to give birth to her, she might not live very long.”
“[…] I think I’m to the point where I hope to make it to full term, but I have to be realistic and realize that it’s probably not going to happen,” she added then.
Even with the odds stacked against her daughter,Tricia persevered and, as the pro-life group Life Dynamics notes, Annabelle was born. She only lived for a short time but, tomorrow, as people March for Life, her life will continue to be an inspiration.
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A March for Life event was led by pro-lifers commemorating little Annabelle Marie Roos whose family refused to abort her after she was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder. The message of the Annabelle’s Army marchers is “Every Life Matters, Every Life Counts.”
On January 5th, little Annabelle was carried into heaven to be with Jesus. She peacefully passed away in the arms of her mom with her dad and aunt rubbing her gently.
Annabelle was diagnosed on July 14, 2014 with full Trisomy 18. When doctors recommended terminating the pregnancy, or killing Annabelle in the womb, the Roos family chose to carry Annabelle to full term and give her the best chance at life.
Annabelle’s birth on Dec. 29, 2014 was a miracle and God sustained her for 150 beautiful hours of life, when she entered heaven on Jan. 5, 2015.
The family has created the Facebook page: Annabelle’s Army to tell her story.
On the day Annabelle was taken to Heaven, her loving family posted this message to her Facebook page:
God said YES to every prayer for Annabelle that we had asked and did abundantly more than we had ever hoped for. Today, she is in the arms of her King – completely healed and completely whole.
Despite our broken hearts and deep mourning, we cannot thank our Father enough for the perfect life He gave her and the impact she has made. Thank you for joining us in praying over her life. Every bit of Annabelle and our moments with her were beautiful.
Today is a day to mourn, to be grateful, to consider the greatness of our God, to dwell in His loving presence, and to remember that our sweet Annabelle is dancing in heaven today. “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
Scripture says, “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.” Ecclesiastes 7:2
We hope and pray that your life was changed by our little girl. God’s love and care for her is the exact same that he has for you today.
Just days after her passing, the page commemorating Annabelle’s life also mourned the lives of unborn children killed from abortion.
Annabelle’s family even encouraged pro-lifers to carry a sign of protection for children like Annabelle to their local March for Life in Dallas.
