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Marla Cichowski

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Ohio Mother Pregnant With Wrong Baby

September 24, 2009 - 8:43 PM | by: Marla Cichowski

We are in Sylvania, OH covering a heartbreaking, yet remarkable story.

The Ohio mother who made headlines around the world after disclosing she is going to give birth to a baby boy that is not her biological child, sat down to talk to Fox News at her home on Wednesday night.  Carolyn Savage and her husband Sean, spoke openly about what the past 8 months have been like for them, after getting an unimaginable phone call from their doctor in February. A phone call they say changed their lives forever.

Carolyn described the day her husband came home early from work and broke the news. "He barged into the room, he blurted it out, he said I have really bad news.. I sat straight up. He just said you're pregnant but they transfered somebody elses embryos and it's not our baby and I thought he was joking and I kept thinking, I know I'm pregnant, I'm like, what, that's not possible and i yelled at him.. I said 'you're joking, you're joking,' then I think I yelled again, 'You're Joking' and then I realized the gravity of what he just shared and it landed on me.  I just couldn't believe what he was saying, I just kept thinking there's a baby inside of me, it's not mine, I kept asking what are we going to do, but then we knew what we had to do, we knew right away what we were going to do... " Carolyn says it took some time for the reality of the situation to sink in, "We were distraught to say the least and just kind of... we were reeling, I don't think it will ever leave my memory, ever."  Carolyn is due to deliver the baby boy she is carrying by October 5th.  She has kept in regular contact with the baby's biological parents, Shannon and Paul Morell, who live near Detroit.

I interviewed Shannon Morell today to hear her side of this amazing story.  The mother of two-year old twin girls, Shannon says she cannot put into words how difficult the past 8 months have been for her and her husband. "For some reason, God decided that another woman was going to carry my child. I have no idea why at all, but we are going to make the best solution to a terrible beginning."

Shannon and Paul Morell will be at the hospital when Carolyn delivers the baby but Shannon says Carolyn and Sean can spend as much time as they want with the baby after it's born.  Shannon says she and her husband are thrilled to welcome a baby boy into their family. "We are over the moon and so excited that we're going to have a baby. We pray he is healthy. We pray for Carolyn and her delivery. I have felt a tremendous guilt over this whole thing."

Listen to portions of our interviews with Carolyn and Sean Savage in Ohio and Shannon Morell in Michigan

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[...] may have heard in the news that a Toledo woman, Carolyn Savage, was implanted with the wrong embryo. She found out in February when she was only two months along. She and her husband were naturally [...]

September 26, 2009 at 7:03 PM
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A RN

I'm sure all of you "Christians" who are spewing your beliefs about what God and the Bible state are the "correct thing to do" never have been to a doctor or had a friend or family member revived or had a life saving surgery performed on them because if you have you are putting someone else in charge of your destiny, right? Human interference? You people are the same ones who are begging the doctors to "do something." Why not just let people die and go to heaven? Why is it okay for a doctor to interfere if someone is going to die, but not for one to help create a life? Think about that the next time you can't breathe.

September 26, 2009 at 6:01 PM
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K.O.

It is in the Bible that the other Apostles followed Peter. Peter was given the keys, by Jesus. Even Paul went to Peter. It is hard for Protestants to except this because if they did they would see that they were lead away from the true Church. I can't change your mind. It has been imbedded in you that Catholics are wrong and you might even think evil. If you look at all of your core beliefs, they come from the Catholic Church. I say these things not put down the Protestants but to have them stop bashing the Catholic Church. I look at the Protestant movement almost like a sales pitch. When the reformation started the leaders of the movement had to tell lies to get people to move away from the Catholic Church. They went as so far to remove books from the Bible. I can’t imagine what would happen if the Catholic Church removed anything from the Bible, everyone would be saying that they are the anti Christ. Wait they already do say that. I respect all Christians and their churches, why can’t they do the return.

September 25, 2009 at 6:48 PM
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http://areteandeudaimonia.blogspot.com/

Adios!

September 25, 2009 at 4:20 PM
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http://areteandeudaimonia.blogspot.com/

IT is called inference. We take what we know of marriage and what Scripture/history of the Church/etc. says of marriage and infer how we should approach IVF. Besides, can you please show me anywhere in Scripture where it says that the Bible is our sole rule in determining these moral issues?

September 25, 2009 at 4:14 PM
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Wendy

Ok, in response to this comment from http://areteandeudaimonia.blogspot.com/ "Please tell me, how is disordered acts like IVF in any way conducive to a miracle? A child is not a puppy or some song you can download on your iPod. A child is the fruit of conjugal love between the spouses." Not to be TOO plain...but I'm not sure if you realize this or not, but every child is not conceived thru a conjugal LOVE between the spouses...there are MANY couples who TRY for a baby yrs. Obviously you are not even familiar w/ the monotoring of a female cycle...ovulation predictors. etc. From experience, by then...It isn't about a CONJUGAL LOVE anymore...it's about a mother who longs to hold a baby in her empty arms. Do you honestly think that every time someone "lays down" that it is about a "CONJUGAL LOVE" ?? GET REAL! By The way: No matter what you say...MY CHILD IS A MIRACLE!!

September 25, 2009 at 4:13 PM
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mediocrates

"You must be kidding!", LOL... I think people get turned off a bit when Catholics say things like "We are the one true church." Fact is, anytime you entrust anything to humans, eventually, it gets screwed up. Look at IVF for example. Keep up the good work...

September 25, 2009 at 4:10 PM
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http://areteandeudaimonia.blogspot.com/

Please tell me, how is disordered acts like IVF in any way conducive to a miracle? A child is not a puppy or some song you can download on your iPod. A child is the fruit of conjugal love between the spouses.

September 25, 2009 at 3:58 PM
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Salt

Where are your skeletons? The Holy Bible call Followers of Jesus Christ a peculiar people. Yes, it is easier to believe an all intelligent being created us than to believe that nothing created something. Or maybe Chance created us? so i say FTW!

September 25, 2009 at 3:33 PM
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Jarrod

Who are you to determine when enough is enough??!! How many kids is enough? Onw, Two, Three... Be for real, blessings go out to your sister-in- law on here lost...but your statement is of pure greed and hatridge..you may need to go to church more often...."Thou shall not judge our neighbor"

September 25, 2009 at 2:41 PM
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KKB

Brandon, With IVF one chooses life but, at the same time, inadvertantly or not, chooses death. Embryos (human life) die within the procedure of bringing others to the possibility of being born. This fact is known. When one accepts IVF, they also accept this fact (that some embryos will die) about it.

September 25, 2009 at 2:34 PM
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Richard

I didn't see anywhere that said Ann wasn't a "believer". Did you? I think you may have jumped to an invalid conclusion. Being tolerant of others' beliefs does not require that you share them.

September 25, 2009 at 2:22 PM
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Laura

First off, K.O., you are telling me that Christ was a Catholic? Your facts are all wrong. I will so far as to say that Christ spoke to Peter personally about being the rock but he also spoke out to the other disciples to go spread the word as well. YOu might want to look at that verse in it's full context. So what you are telling me is that the other disciples of Christ meant nothing to Christ and were not to spread the word and start chruches? Wrong! That is not scriptural. Our unity needs only to be in the knowledge that Christ died for our sins and we will have eternal life because of his sacrifice. Nothing we can do or not do can separate us from the love of God if we know in our heart that Jesus is our Savior. We are all sinners who do not deserve His love but through HIS grace and mercy, we get it anyway. That is my reality! I do not need anyone to tell me that or confirm it. It is in HIS words in the Bible.

September 25, 2009 at 1:42 PM
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Catholic101

What a beautiful entry! Kudos to you!

September 25, 2009 at 1:29 PM
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Wendy

Well said Lutey... On another thought...some people are bound and determined to "disagree"...some just LIKE to fuss...you can't NO WHERE w/ them, but I dont, and like I said...I love my IVF baby:) and I hope to have another one...despite all of the comments that have been made...my GOD is still in control...whatever happens is all in HIS GREAT PLAN..

September 25, 2009 at 1:27 PM
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Lutey

Actually, Scripture is silent on IVF. The Catholic Church is not and I understand that as a practicing, and obviously ardent, Catholic, you whole-heartedly agree with the Church. But as a practicing, and ardent, Christian who follows only Scripture and not the teachings of any man (such as a Pope, bishop, or priest) I can honestly tell you that not everyone who chooses IVF chooses death. I know that there are some who do and I wholeheartedly disagree with their decision. Yet there are many who staunchly refuse to allow the use of their embryos for any purpose other than the birth of their own child, God-willing. And God is definitely in the process. Anyone who has an inkling of IVF knows that there are no guarantees. The doctor is not "playing God". He is not creating anything because, as you and I both know, he cannot. Only God can create life regardless of where it begins, just as only God can sustain life day by day, minute by minute. I understand you believe that IVF is a "culture of death". I would have to respectfully disagree. Our society is a culture of death and IVF is another good thing that has been hijacked for evil. IVF is not in and of itself evil. It can be used for good or for evil but it depends on who is using it and how they are using it.

September 25, 2009 at 1:26 PM
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KKB

Lutey, I understand that there are couples who would like every one of their embryos to be born. The point is that when these embryos are implanted it's known that many will not survive. This is purpousfully sacrificing some lives for others. Additional hormones to a womans body IS harmful to her body. Again, don't trust blindly what doctors say. Find the truth for yourself.

September 25, 2009 at 1:21 PM
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Jarrod

And how do we know it isn't gods will when someone committs murder or some other horrific crime. Yet we will judge this person.. One thing thats always made me laugh at society is how people bend the words of the bible to suit there own needs!!! No where does it say "Thou shal not kill" with exception to the following.. Or "Thou shall not Coite thy neighbor" unless she's hot... be for real!! It's a blessing that after the mistake was found that the unborn child wasn't destroyed!!!

September 25, 2009 at 1:02 PM
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John (CS)

Rex---well said.

September 25, 2009 at 1:00 PM
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micha

I have dear Christian friends that struggled with infertilitybefore resorting to IVF. I feel it was right for them becauseAll viable embryos (and there were few) were used in the procdeures. The 1st 2 failed. THe 3rd resulted in a beautiful boy and girl. Nothing was "wasted." I feel God truly blessed them not only with babies, but with only allowing the few potential so they wouldn't have the guilt of what would happen to the "leftovers". (I use quotes bc I can't think of more appropriate words.)

September 25, 2009 at 12:56 PM
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