A mother in Florida made the courageous decision to carry her pregnancy to full term, despite knowing her baby had a fatal condition, so that her daughter's short life could save others through organ donation.
A Devastating Diagnosis at 14 Weeks
Catherine Mornhineway was 14 weeks pregnant with her partner, Andrew Ford, when a routine ultrasound in June revealed their baby likely had anencephaly. This rare birth defect, affecting roughly one in 5,250 babies, means the skull and brain do not form completely. Doctors confirmed the diagnosis with a second scan, which also revealed the baby was a girl. The medical team explained that the condition meant the baby would not survive after birth and that many parents choose to terminate the pregnancy.
Finding Purpose in Heartbreak
For three weeks, the 30-year-old mother wrestled with an impossible choice. Her decision was ultimately inspired by an episode of the medical drama 'Grey's Anatomy', which depicted organ donation. Catherine and Andrew resolved to continue the pregnancy, hoping to give other infants a chance at life. "That's really the biggest reason, is we want her death to mean something," Andrew Ford later told WSAV.
Their daughter, Haven, was born on December 11 at 10.31pm, weighing six pounds. She was placed on life support in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). For four days, her family cherished every moment. Haven met her three siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. "I got to see her and her little feet and hands," Catherine recalled. "She really seemed like she had quite a personality. It was really special, the time that we got."
A Final Farewell and a Lasting Legacy
In a poignant moment, nurses helped take Haven outside so she could "feel the sun." She passed away peacefully on December 14. "Back in the (hospital room), she passed on my chest, and, you know, we were all just kind of snuggled into bed, and I just couldn't think of a more beautiful way to say goodbye," said Ford.
In a tribute to Haven, the HCA hospital held its first-ever honour walk for a newborn. Staff lined the halls as Haven was taken for organ recovery—a tradition to honour donors. Surgeon Jacentha Buggs from Lifelink, an organ donation organisation, performed the procedure, noting Haven was the youngest patient she had ever operated on.
The family's profound act of generosity has resonated widely. Strangers have donated to Donate Life in Haven's honour and sent messages of support. Online, people praised the family's bravery: "I admire your kindness...God bless you always," wrote one. Another said, "A brave and unselfish choice, given in love and memory." A third commented, "This is so incredibly moving. What a truly loving act and legacy to honor their precious daughter Haven, a true haven for the lives she saved."
Reflecting on their journey, Andrew Ford shared, "I don’t think we ever really got over it, just more so accepting that it’s out of your control." Through their grief, Catherine and Andrew gave their daughter a legacy of life, transforming a personal tragedy into hope for other families.
