The mum of three has said it will be their ‘Christmas gift to other babies’.
Hayley Martin sadly found out at her 20-week scan that her baby girl will die during labour or within minutes of birth.
While doctors suggested she get a termination to avoid the trauma of birth, she has decided to take the pregnancy to term so their baby daughter’s organs can go to other newborns in desperate need of transplants.
Mrs Martin and her husband Scott, also 30, hope their unborn child will live on through the lives on children she saves.
The selfless mother, who is likely to be induced Christmas week, a month before her due date, has even vowed to donate one of her own kidneys in Ava-Joy’s name as soon as she has recovered from the birth.
Mrs Martin said: ‘Our child is going to die no matter what, but if we can try and save somebody else the grief we are going through, it will all be worth it.
‘It was not an easy decision but it was the right decision, and it has helped me cope with the heartbreak.
‘A part of her will live on, she won’t be completely gone. She will be alive in somebody else.
‘It is her Christmas gift to other poorly babies.
‘And I want to donate my kidney too because Ava will be born without any to donate. I want to give one in her honour.’
When the couple went to their five-month scan, the couple were expecting to find out the sex of the baby, but instead were heartbroken to discover their child, who they have named, Ava-Joy, would not survive beyond pregnancy.
Ava-Joy was diagnosed with bilateral renal agenesis – a rare genetic disorder.
It is always fatal and means the baby has no kidneys or bladder and is not surrounded by enough amniotic fluid, causing underdeveloped lungs.
The doctors explained it was a terminal diagnosis and their baby would go into respiratory arrest very soon after birth.
Our thoughts are with the family. What a difficult time to endure, but also so very brave and selfless of them.
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