We are writing to express our total opposition to any reduction in the time limit for abortions. Two years ago our newly born son was diagnosed to be suffering from a genetically caused disease of the skin. This disease causes the sufferer to lack a certain essential fibre in the skin. Any contact with the skin causes large blisters to form and burst leaving raw skin that only heals slowly and then leaves a scar. The disease is incurable and usually causes death within the first six months. Our son's case extended to his digestive and respiratory tracts and as a result of such internal blistering and scarring he died a painful death at the age of ten weeks. We have a one in four probability of producing another child with this defect. But it is possible to detect the disease antenatally. We decided to restart our family only because we knew that this test was available and we knew that we could have another affected child terminated. This decision was not taken easily or lightly. The test can only detect this disease at about the 18th week because only then has the child's skin developed enough for the complex testing that must take place. So any reduction below the 22-24 week limit would prevent us from having the family we so desire. We have had to watch our first child die slowly and painfully with no opportunity to even hold and comfort him because we knew that that would only cause more blistering and pain. His food intake caused pain and nappies were unbearable. So you see if we are to become a family we must have the 24-week option open to us.
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Alton you are a sadist, an evil man who enjoys the suffering of children. All handicapped children suffer, their families also and you enjoy that. You gloat over the fact that other countries do not practice abortion. Those other countries you so admire, do you ever watch the millions of poor little children suffering and dying of starvation? You enjoy that also. How stupid and evil can you get? Drop dead Alton, before we have to commit your murder. You are so pathetic we are amazed that any decent person can bear the sight of you.
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We know the tragedy of caring for a handicapped child, you do not. It is soul destroying, and if only we had had the knowledge beforehand, our lives would