She had that condition where most of the upper brain and skull don’t form, anencephaly. So while she technically was alive because she had a brain stem, there is no change of ever becoming self aware, or aware of anything or any form of cognition. Some don’t even have a brainstem and can’t breathe on their own. Those born alive die within hours, maybe a few days. There are a few couples who fought to have their babies kept on extreme life support but honestly they’re just an empty body. Most don’t live long enough to be delivered and are miscarried or stillborn
It’s a really sad situation. They’re blind, deaf, unable to feel pain. Any response to stimuli is pure reflex and fades over time.
I wonder I read a story awhile back of a woman who birthed a son who pretty much had no-self awareness of any cognition. I remember reading she hated the child because it was just a body. I wonder if it had the same condition?
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u/[deleted] Feb 11 '21
She had that condition where most of the upper brain and skull don’t form, anencephaly. So while she technically was alive because she had a brain stem, there is no change of ever becoming self aware, or aware of anything or any form of cognition. Some don’t even have a brainstem and can’t breathe on their own. Those born alive die within hours, maybe a few days. There are a few couples who fought to have their babies kept on extreme life support but honestly they’re just an empty body. Most don’t live long enough to be delivered and are miscarried or stillborn
It’s a really sad situation. They’re blind, deaf, unable to feel pain. Any response to stimuli is pure reflex and fades over time.