Donna Joy Vance
From Holoprosencephaly
In the last trimester of Lori's third pregnancy, she was told her child had severe hydrocephalus and was likely going to die before her birth. Lori was told to have a procedure known as, Partial Birth Abortion. She went to several high risk OB doctors who told her the ONLY option, was abortion. Lori refused.
Donna Joy was born two days before Thanksgiving in 1991. Having fought for surgeries and treatments, and being fed one drop at a time by her loving mother to keep her from choking to death or starving to death as the medical community was hoping she would do, Donna Joy thrived.She was diagnosed with a fatal brain disorder known as HPE, evidenced by very little brain tissue within the skull, and brain protruding through a hole in the back of her tiny skull. Lori was told her precious baby would be dead before her first birthday, as this had been the case with nearly every other child with this diagnosis......Apparently, God had other plans! Today, Donna Joy is attending middle school in Rogersville, Tn., and is looking forward to her 16th birthday!
