Mum to carry her terminal baby to full term so she can donate organs

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.

Read their full story here.

Our thoughts are with the family. What a difficult time to endure, but also so very brave and selfless of them.

Share your comments below.

Image via Facebook

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.

17 Comments

- - mom81879 said
  - 31 Mar 2019
    4:49 pm
What an amazingly brave, considerate mum to be. Such a difficult position for her to be in, yet she has the strength to be thinking of others. Your kids should be proud

- - mom112217 said
  - 04 Dec 2018
    6:22 pm
An amazing woman to this,so brave!

- - june11 said
  - 03 Jan 2018
    6:23 pm
Not only will Helen and Scott grieve and have to come to terms with their loss under such tragic cimcumstances, they have other children who will grieve too. That will impact on Helen and Scott as they support them too. I hope they all get the counselling all of them will need. It won’t be easy for the grandparents or other close relatives either, This baby has no chance of life but hopefully can improve the quality of life of others as is the decision of the heartbroken parents.

- - mom19782016 said
  - 01 Jan 2018
    8:07 pm
Oh my gosh, this made me cry. What a selfless, difficult and brave act. What a beautiful message – to save some other children because they couldn’t save her own. This is the type of person who should be honoured.

- - tessie said
  - 22 Dec 2017
    11:04 am
Such terrible news but what a brave Mother. She is not being selfish, she wants to do make something good come out of their tragedy. Sending them positive thoughts and prayers.

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 21 Dec 2017
    1:55 pm
Wow this mum deserves a medal- what an incredibly unselfish thing to do!

- - mom160421 said
  - 20 Dec 2017
    10:46 am
A wonderful mother to think of others in her time of sadness. I wish her and her family all the very best.

- - jools41 said
  - 19 Dec 2017
    10:01 pm
A brave lady & a selfless family.

- - mom94125 said
  - 19 Dec 2017
    9:22 pm
wow that is a brave and selfless choice. poor guys! very tough to read

- - taynik46 said
  - 19 Dec 2017
    12:14 pm
so saddened to read this but also so in awe of the selfless and kind act they are doing. It must be terribly heartbreaking to be going through – I wish them lots of love and strength as they continue

- - Mum2archer said
  - 19 Dec 2017
    11:36 am
Wow, this would be so hard to go through and I think they are very brave making this selfless decision. Sending them love and support

- - Ellen said
  - 19 Dec 2017
    4:17 am
A beautiful decision and personally I think a better and easier decision then the decision to terminate.
A part of their baby will live on, she won’t be completely gone, she’ll be alive in somebody else indeed.

- - BellaB said
  - 18 Dec 2017
    7:32 pm
Such a brave decision; I hope this does bring them comfort.

- - cherz said
  - 18 Dec 2017
    7:19 pm
What amazingly beautiful parents you both are Hayley and Scott. Giving health back to another child is wonderful and a part of Ava-Joy will live on spreading love and joy.

- - mom206279 said
  - 18 Dec 2017
    3:30 pm
What an incredible gift. They would understand better than anyone the pain of losing a child and how much it means if they can save another family going through it.