If you knew that you carried the gene for an inheritable disorder

[Tenebrae]

would you marry and have children?

 

[on_the_hill]

We did, although we didn’t know it with our first child.

When we learned of the disorder, while my wife was pregnant, we went to a genetic counselor to learn about it, a condition which is invariably fatal. Babies born with it die within several hours of birth. The counselor was reassuring and optimistic that the odds were greatly in our favor.

Thankfully, we’ve had three healthy children.

My wife has relatives who carry a gene for kidney failure, through the mother. Thus, her female cousin is childless. Just too great a risk.

 

[Xantippe]

How severe do you mean? There’s a spectrum of inherited things, with one side being fatal inherited conditions, and on the less serious side lots of personality quirks, and lots of stuff in between. There’s also the question of how likely the condition is to be passed on to children.

If I had thought seriously about my and my husband’s heredity, it would have given me pause. However, along with the possible negatives, there are many positives.

 

[PaulGH]

Without directly answering your question, I would point out two things:

1. 
   *]I would venture to say that nearly everyone carries “bad” genes of some kind or another. Sure, some may be worse than others, but surely most (if not all) of us have something that is less than perfect in our genetic code – whether it is a tendency to heart disease, or to a certain type of cancer, or to cancer in general, or to diabetes, or to depression, or to bipolar disorder – the list could go on and on.
   *]Just because a parent has the gene for an inheritable disorder does not necessarily mean that the parent’s child or children will inherit that disorder. (Disclaimer: Of couse you can and should check with a medical professional to find the exact probability of passing on a particular genetic disorder.)

 

[EasterJoy]

My husband’s mother carried a gene that lead to a blood disorder that became serious in her eighties, and the grandchildren know that they might carry it. It is a particular issue for the girls (at least, as I remember it can affect pregnancies). Yes, we’d still still have children.

Keep in mind that the gene for sickle cell anemia confers resistance to malaria for those who are heterozygous. The gene for cystic fibrosis is thought to give resistance to cholera. A certain level of some so-called “defective” genes are actually protective for the human race. If we were all clones with one identical set of “perfect” genes, we’d be more vulnerable to disease epidemics. Even from a biological point of view, if the practice of eugenics becomes widespread, it could carry a heavy price for us as a species. Those of us who have more difficult DNA are paying the group’s price for having a healthy level of genetic diversity as a race.

So yes, I’d marry and have children if I had problematic genes. I would definitely want to have my spouse’s genome checked before we decided to have children, because the consideration of a high likelihood of a child needing exceptional resources is something that prudence asks that the couple consider in making their future plans. They might use NFP to avoid a pregnancy, but I mean they might also want to have careers in place that would be more amenable to taking care of a child with that issue to deal with.

 

[bzkoss236]

would you marry and have children?

I don’t see why not.

I, for instance, carry the gene for male osteoporosis. My dad has it, my paternal grandfather and uncles have it, and it is very likely that I’ll have it. There are preventative measures to be able to “postpone” its occurrence, but it is almost inevitable. My wife and I plan on having kids.

Many people carry the genes for inherited breast cancer (even guys).

It is just a fact of life. If everyone wanted to avoid passing something on, just about everyone would have to stop having kids.

 

[Rete]

It depends upon the gene and the disorder or disease that it can confer. If it’s a recessive gene, then you need only limit your marriage to women who do not also carry that gene. If it’s only a matter of probability, and the probability is low, then I don’t see why not.

 

[EasterJoy]

It depends upon the gene and the disorder or disease that it can confer. If it’s a recessive gene, then you need only limit your marriage to women who do not also carry that gene. If it’s only a matter of probability, and the probability is low, then I don’t see why not.

I know people, though, who have health issues that they are quite likely to hand on to their children, and when they ask themselves “would you rather have this to deal with or would you rather not have been born?”, they figure that they are glad their parents did not sell them short.

Now, it is different if a person has an issue that seriously impairs their own ability to parent and support a family. That is something else again, even if the challenge is nothing they could pass on.

 

[Eleanor61]

I did not find out until I had children that I had an hereditary, progressive, neuromuscular disorder. One of my three adult children has it. He also has Aspergers Syndome, an autistic spectrum disorder which has an hereditary component as well, again from me. I would not have elected not to have children, I was in my late forties before I became disabled. As a child I was inconvenienced by being clumsy, uncoordinated, and unable to play sports, run, dance or skate, but this does not seem like a reason to avoid having children. My son’s symptoms are a little worse and he has elected not to have children because of the genetic issues, although with his Aspergers issues this is a reasonable decision for him, even without the CMT. (he is far from a practicing catholic, so the religious ethics of the question do not enter into his decision).
It seems like much too broad an issue for an Internet forum, and has been discussed at length here recently if anyone would like to find the thread.

 

[JackieMom]

It would depend on what the condition was and what our odds were. SMA? Heck no. Color blindness? Sure.

 

[HolyRosaryChild]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On my Father’s side was epilepsy and bowel cancer; his brother, Nephew, great Neice all had Epilepsy carried down in their Line. My parents would have had this sitting at the back of their minds when us four were born along with all of my first cousins who may well have been in line for the condition. It was the one Nephew of my Uncle’s who copped it and his daughter.

Now, the interesting thing is that all of the males on my family’s side all got asthma and eczema; Dad, my Brother, his boys, my boy, my sister’s son; all of them and my Son inherited exactly the same medical condition as my Brother ie he took after in most ways; my Brother genetically. I handed over and prayed asking God to take away my Son’s asthma (then 5 years old); and Jesus did praise be to Thee Dear Jesus Christ our Saviour; My Nephews grew out of Asthma and Eczema as teenagers.

All of the concern in the back of my mind about the Epilepsy with the generational bizzo (in which my first cousins kids and my kids would have normally been in line) genetically was unfounded.

God can and does intervene if we pray to Him, fully handing the matters over for His Loving Divine Intervention provided we Trust and have full confidence in Him.

My kids had two conditions as babies that were rare and apparently genetic; I cannot find others in the family who had this condition other than their Father and my Sister. Through Jesus and Mother Mary’s Divine Loving intercession; the condition disappeared after hard prayer long before it was supposed to ‘medically leave’ them.

Praise and thanks be to Thee Dear God our Heavenly Father and Dear Our Lady Mary Mother of Jesus now and for Eternity Amen

If you pray for Jesus’ and our Holy Mother’s Divine Loving Intercession before you have Children (I pray the Holy Rosaries for every request); He will Intercede in His Will for your Soul journey and for His Child or Children He wishes to send through.

Love and best wishes

 

[Tenebrae]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

God can and does intervene if we pray to Him, fully handing the matters over for His Loving Divine Intervention provided we Trust and have full confidence in Him.

Love and best wishes

Thanks. That’s been very encouraging to me.

 

[chevalier]

Yes, other than something really really horrible or requiring welfare support.