YouTuber Jesse Ridgway and his wife revealed this week they terminated a pregnancy after learning their unborn child had Down syndrome, sharing an emotional account of what they described as one of the most difficult decisions of their lives.
Ridgway announced the diagnosis and their decision in a Wednesday post on X, saying they wrestled with the choice after doctors informed them their baby was likely to be born with the genetic condition.
"This week, my wife and I made the very difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy due to Trisomy 21," Ridgway wrote. "The choice was not made lightly. We really appreciate all of the personal stories that you guys shared with us, especially the unconditional support we received from fans with no matter what we decided."
Ridgway, whose YouTube channel McJuggerNuggets has more than 4 million followers, had kept followers in the loop during his wife Ashley's pregnancy. He posted a video to his personal channel where they read the confirmation of the Trisomy 21 diagnosis, and his wife wept over the news.
He acknowledged that some fans might be disappointed to hear that his wife had an abortion and thanked others for their support.
"I know some of you may be very disappointed to hear this news," Ridgway wrote. "We are devastated. This has been extremely traumatic for both of us, especially Ashley. She underwent the procedure earlier this week and is on the mend. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, but emotionally we are drained."
He listed Down syndrome statistics, saying that half of babies with the condition have heart defects, 75% have hearing issues and that half will also have eyesight challenges, adding that "impaired immune function, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, delayed physical development, poor muscle tone, structural issues with face, decreased lifespan," are also challenges.
"Sadly, the list is long, feel free to look it up… Down Syndome [sic] isn’t a ‘blessing,’ it is objectively s---ty from a health perspective," Ridgway wrote.
The announcement went viral on X, formerly Twitter, prompting an onslaught of concern and pushback.
In a Friday post on X, House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote, "In 29 days, we will celebrate the 250th birthday of our exceptional nation, which became the greatest of all because we were the first to declare the self-evident truth that all people are created equal by God. Not ‘born equal.’ We are ‘CREATED equal.’ Because God made us all in His image, it means EVERY SINGLE PERSON has inestimable DIGNITY and VALUE—and our value is not related in any way to the color of our skin, what zip code we live in, what our talents are, our health condition, or any other factor."
Johnson added, "Our value is inherent, because it is given to us by our loving Heavenly Father. When a culture devolves to the point of depravity where ‘influencers’ can go online and so casually dismiss the deliberate murder of their own precious child, the survival of that culture itself is at risk."
Former Planned Parenthood clinic director Abby Johnson shared her dismay in a Thursday reply on X.
"Holy crap. Just out here boasting about murdering a beautiful child with no remorse," Johnson said.
"Your baby was brutally and torturously murdered in his mother’s womb… the place that should have been the safest," she added. "I hope you think about his fear as he was torn apart. I hope you think about his pain. Meanwhile, you’re saving your dog with cancer. What a monster of a man you are."
The Babylon Bee's Kyle Mann called him "evil."
Mollie Hemingway, editor-in-chief of The Federalist, replied to Ridgway’s post where someone responded, "Who are you to judge?" and Hemingway replied, "Just a human who cares about human rights."
Wrote another user: "My son has Down syndrome and he's one of the best things that ever happened to me. The list of conditions sounds terrifying at first, but modern medicine can do so much for them. If you ever get a positive screening, I promise you won't regret welcoming your child."
While some responses expressed sympathy for the Ridgways, the overwhelming amount of comments on YouTube and X to Ridgway appeared to show anger and grief.
In a post responding to critics, Ridgway wrote in part, "I’ve never seen such hate and vitriol for two people grieving the loss of their unborn child and making an impossible decision. The last 24 hours have exposed a side of humanity that is deeply disturbing. Being called 'murderous pieces of s---, evil, compared to Hitler' and receiving NON-STOP DEATH THREATS."
He added, "The reason this blew up is quite simple: IT’S BECAUSE NOBODY TALKS ABOUT IT. I can’t blame people for not talking about these vulnerable experiences publicly because you see the disgusting backlash that ensues. It’s very divisive. Luckily, after 20 years on the Internet, this is par the course for me taking on the crazies, so I’m glad I can help further the conversation."
Fox News Digital reached out to Ridgway for additional comment.
Rachel del Guidice
https://www.foxnews.com/media/youtuber-sparks-outrage-after-announcing-he-wife-terminated-pregnancy-over-down-syndrome-diagnosis
Florida-based entrepreneur and father Aric Berquist shares his reaction to the news that he and his wife would have a child with Down syndrome — and how their son would bring him life-changing lessons.
"I literally felt like I'd lost the air in my chest. I couldn't speak."
That was the immediate reaction of a Florida dad and entrepreneur when he learned during an urgent phone call from his wife — who was pregnant with their fourth child and had just finished talking with a doctor — that their new baby might be born with Down syndrome.
"I was sad. I was angry. I was frustrated," said Aric Berquist, who shared his thoughts in a video (see the video at the top of this article) and in an interview with Fox News Digital.
Berquist said that on the phone call, he "wanted to stay calm" for the sake of his wife, Gretchen, "who was teary" as the couple talked over the news.
After they hung up, as he struggled with his emotions, he said, "I just felt this, heard this voice say, ‘Who are you to tell me what a blessing is?’"
The deeply faithful Christian parent said the voice "wasn't angry. It felt strong, and it felt safe — and it was so shocking that all of my arm hairs were raised to the point that it hurt."
And he found himself "just bursting into tears."
A subsequent ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis of Down syndrome for their new baby — and the couple did all they could to prepare themselves, and their older children, for the baby's arrival.
"He continues to teach me more about life and myself than I could ever dream of articulating."
That year, the dad said, "Asher was born. And I really do feel that on that day, treasure was put in my hands."
Berquist described the joy he believes their youngest has brought the entire family — both from the time he was born and up to the present day, including at the recent wedding of their daughter, the oldest of their four children.
"That kid has literally changed my life in an amazing way," he said.
The couple's youngest is 13 years old today and in sixth grade.
"And he continues to teach me more about life and myself than I could ever dream of articulating."
He "loves sports," added Berquist. "He'll play flag football and he's done soccer. He loves to play sports with his two older brothers, Andrew and Adam."
"He is available to everyone he engages with."
He said his son Asher's bond with brother Adam — the sibling closest to him in age — "is one of the richest and most beautiful things I've ever seen."
Their youngest "occupies the current moment like nobody I have ever met," Berquist also said. "He is present. And he is available to everyone he engages with."
He makes others feel "acknowledged. And I'm starting to think that we, as the ‘typical people,’ have the disabilities — not him."
Today, Berquist also told Fox News Digital, "he's doing so well. It's been really wonderful to see how he's developed — just his growth within each phase. But more than that, it's been really touching as a parent to see how he's connected with so many people in his life. It's been beautiful to watch."
The Berquist family at the recent wedding of daughter Abby, center. Youngest child Asher is shown at right, front. (Berquist family)
Heart problems are a concern for children with Down syndrome — and young Asher had bypass surgery within the first three months of his life, his family said. After a week in the hospital, he returned home to his parents and siblings.
Down syndrome is a condition in which a baby is born with an extra chromosome.
Chromosomes determine how the body forms and functions. Those born with an extra one experience changes in the way the body and
A baby is typically born with 46 chromosomes. A baby with Down syndrome has a full or partial copy of chromosome 21.
About 5,700 babies are born with Down syndrome each year in the U.S., and over 400,000 people in the country currently live with it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The life expectancy of those with the condition has increased dramatically over the years.
In 1983, it was just 25 years old — but today it's 60 years old, per the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, a nonprofit based in Denver, Colorado.
The most common type of Down syndrome is trisomy 21, which accounts for 95% of all cases. Less common types of Down syndrome are translocation (caused by rearranged chromosome material) and mosaicism (when there is a mixture of two types of cells).
There are no known ways to prevent the condition during pregnancy and no known root causes, experts say.
One risk factor associated with Down syndrome is the age of the mother. For a 25-year-old pregnant woman, the odds are about 1 in 1,250. At age 40, those odds are 1 in 100, statistics show.
There are both physical and developmental symptoms of Down syndrome.
Physical symptoms may include a flattened face; shorter height; short neck; small ears, hands and feet; and decreased muscle tone, according to the CDC.
Developmental symptoms, meanwhile, may include a short attention span, impulsive behavior, slow learning and delayed speech development.
Not every child with Down syndrome will display each of these traits.
A key life lesson for Berquist through his experiences has been about being present.
Know that "your feet are on the ground today," he said.
"Walk through that day."
When there are life challenges, he said, "when we walk through things that are tough, we're being cleaned. We're being made into something beautiful if we allow it and if we walk through it."
Berquist also said, "Breathe that air. Engage with that beauty. Because that is your life."
Maureen Mackey. Angelica Stabile and Ashlyn Messier,contributed reporting.
https://www.foxnews.com/health/family-down-syndrome-son-went-shock-gratitude-lost-air-chest
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