After a scan at 12 weeks, Sarah Ojar and her husband were told there was a 1/29 chance that their second child, Zephy, would have Down’s syndrome. One of the options offered was an abortion.

Sarah decided to go on with the pregnancy, having previously determined that she and her husband would never terminate a child under any circumstance.

And at 16 weeks she felt the baby kicking. She began to bond with Zephy.

A 20-week scan then revealed that the baby had developed Fetal Hydrops, meaning a buildup of fluid around his brain, heart and lungs. They were told that “he really has no chance of surviving”.

Again, an abortion was offered; and again, when it was confirmed that Zephy did have Down’s syndrome. Sarah refused.

Zephy was born on Boxing Day 2016, having overcome Fetal Hydrops that doctors believed he would not survive.

Regarding Zephy’s Down’s syndrome, Sarah says: “Over time, we found lots of things were the same and some things were different… The first four months were very challenging, finding our feet with services and finding support groups, and understanding what his diagnosis meant for him and us.”

But now that Zephy has turned four, Sarah has no regrets: “Watching him grow from a toddler into a little boy this year has been a blessing.

“I’m really excited to see what the future has in store for him. For anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation or has a postnatal diagnosis, I want to encourage you. I want you to know there is a wonderful community out there waiting with open arms to help you navigate practically and emotionally.”

SPUC comment

A SPUC spokesperson said: “In the wake of the ITV soap Emmerdale’s recent storyline in which a baby is aborted because it has Down’s syndrome, it is vital that we push back against society’s current bias against the condition.

“Emmerdale is only a small part of the problem, which disgracefully sees parents offered abortion time and time again almost as a default response to a child diagnosed with Down’s syndrome, as SPUC has reported.

“As Sarah has attested to, Down’s syndrome is manageable. Moreover, watching her son grow and thrive in a loving family has been a joy.

“What Zephy and others like him deserve is love, not discrimination and elimination.”

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