As a RN, with my ex-husband who is a surgeon, I made the decision to abort, upon the diagnosis of anencephaly.
We arrived at UT Medical Center for my appointment with the high risk OBGYN for my amniocentesis. I was 36 or 37 years old at the time and considered high risk due to my age. During the ultrasound, I was asked repeatedly about my prior ultrasounds. As a RN, I knew there was a reason for the techs repeated questioning. During the ultrasound, the tech pointed out the heart which was beating. I questioned, "If that's the heart in the thorax, where is the head?" I saw just a tiny circle on top of the thorax, no well-formed head. She stated she needed to get her doctor. Upon hearing the diagnosis of anencephaly, my ex-husband and I stayed calm and made the appropriate medical decision, or so I thought.
At the time it felt like the right decision, and I was "fine" until two months later when I bottomed out emotionally. I was placed on medication to help get me through the crisis. My OBGYN told me I was having the reaction I should have had two months prior. As a former ICU and trauma nurse I always stayed calm during a medical emergency. Get through the crisis, and you can fall apart later. Looking back I would do it all differently. I would not have the abortion, instead would have relied on prayer and let God take control.