Husband Flees upon Learning Unborn Baby Has Down Syndrome, Begs His Way Back When Son Is Born – Story of the Day

When Alyssa and Mark went for prenatal screening, they found that their child would be born with Down Syndrome. This didn't matter to Alyssa, but Mark thought differently and disappeared. Surprisingly, he returned one day for a stunning reason.

The day Alyssa discovered her pregnancy was the best day of her life. At first, she wanted to surprise her husband, Mark, with one of the pregnancy reveals she had seen online. But she was too excited to wait and just ran from her bathroom to the kitchen, where he was preparing a sandwich, and shoved the test in his face.

He hugged her as tightly as possible and jumped around the house. Their joy was indescribable, and Alyssa thought that that memory would remain beautiful and perfect in her mind for the rest of their lives. However, she was wrong.

***

A few months into their pregnancy, the doctor scheduled them for several prenatal screenings, which were supposed to determine whether their baby was healthy. The obstetrician from Florida Medical Clinic called them a few days later and wanted to see them. Alyssa was scared. Surely, if nothing was wrong, she could tell them over the phone.

During their drive to the clinic, she turned to Mark and asked him what had been plaguing her mind. "What if there's something wrong with the baby? What should we do?" she questioned, biting her bottom lip and linking her hands on her lap.

"Please," he scoffed. "I did not sign up for this. That's final. There must be something wrong with your genes. And I will not raise a sick child who is only going to be a burden in my life!"

"I don't know," Mark shook his head and extended his free hand toward hers. "Let's not worry about that before we have to. I'm sure everything will be fine. We're in our 20s anyway. They say issues happen when people wait too long to get pregnant."

Alyssa nodded, not wanting to dwell on the subject because her anxiety was through the roof. But she had to admit that Mark's answer was not reassuring. He should've said that they would deal with whatever happened together and love their child no matter what happened. Instead, he was sure that nothing would be wrong.

In hindsight, that was a red flag.

***

"No, Dr. Baker. That's impossible. Run those tests again," Mark insisted when the doctor revealed the results.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Hensley. This is what the tests say. Now –"

"No way! This isn't happening!" Mark yelled, cutting the doctor off as he paced the office.

"Mark, sit down," Alyssa said quietly, but he wasn't listening.

"NO!" he screamed directly at her, and she flinched at his voice. He looked into her eyes and stormed out of the doctor's office. Alyssa sent an apologetic look to the doctor and ran after her husband.

"Mrs. Hensley, you have to listen to me!" the doctor called out, but Alyssa was focused on trying to catch Mark as he walked rapidly toward their car.

He drove them home in silence, and Alyssa was too scared of the situation to say much. But they finally parked at home, and she said something at last. "Mark, Down Syndrome is not a life-threatening condition. Our child will still be able to have a decent life," she began, trying to cheer him up. Of course, the news was shocking, but they needed time to adjust. They could buy some books and raise this child as best they could.

"Are you crazy, Alyssa?" he demanded, facing her with a stunned expression. He shook his head and got out of the car, slamming the door. She flinched again at his attitude and didn't dare to leave the car for a while.

But once she gathered her courage, she got out and walked toward their bedroom. To her complete shock, Mark was packing a bag.

"What are you doing?" she questioned. Her hands went to her waist.

"If you won't consider terminating this pregnancy, I'm not staying," he answered with a simple shrug.

"Are you kidding me?" Her face showed the shock in her soul at her husband's attitude. "What happened to in sickness and health?"

"Please," he scoffed. "I did not sign up for this. That's final. There must be something wrong with your genes. And I will not raise a sick child who is only going to be a burden in my life!"

Those words sealed the deal for Alyssa. She had been shocked, scared, confused, and conflicted about the entire situation since Dr. Baker told them the results. Mark's reaction at the office had not helped, but she was sure they would get through it all. They had to get over the initial shock and inform themselves about raising a child with this condition. But her husband had just told her the most callous, cruel, and downright wrong words to say to an expecting mother.

She finally understood that cliché saying that mothers protect their kids like lions to their cubs. She would not let him say one more disparaging word, and if he didn't want to be in their lives, that was fine by her.

"Very well," she uttered in an almost deadly voice and walked out of their bedroom. She stayed in the kitchen while Mark finished packing, and she sensed him looking at her one last time. But she refused even to meet his eyes. He sighed and walked out of their lives.

Alyssa didn't even cry. She called her mother immediately and told her everything that happened, including how Mark was out of her life for good. Then she called Dr. Baker because she remembered that the doctor had more to say to them.

Her words were even more shocking than the earlier news, and she laughed almost hysterically through the phone.

***

Alyssa won't lie. The next few months were… strange. She was used to being a wife. But surprisingly, she adapted quickly. In fact, she felt free. Furthermore, her mother and sister were there for her the entire way.

When her son, Hans, entered the world, he was the picture of health. He didn't have Down Syndrome at all.

When Alyssa called Dr. Baker that day, she revealed that the screening test was not a definite diagnosis. If they wanted to find out for sure, they had to do an amniocentesis, which Alyssa rejected. She would be prepared for anything, and when her son was born with no issues, she didn't feel any different. He was perfect either way.

But to her shock, someone told Mark about Hans, and he returned.

***

"What the hell are you doing here?" Alyssa demanded when Mark showed up on her doorstep. She couldn't hide her anger and disdain for the man who had walked out on his family so quickly.

"I'm here to see my son," Mark replied firmly. His face showed absolutely no remorse about his actions.

"Not a chance," she replied, crossing her arms and blocking her doorway. "You walked out. Divorce proceedings have started. You are not welcome here. Ever. Again."

"Alyssa, for God's sake! I have a right to see him!" he insisted.

"No, you don't. I have proof that you walked out on us for months, and my lawyer knows all about it. If you want visitation rights, I'll see you in court."

"Please, Alyssa. Honey, please. I was wrong. Ok? I was wrong. I shouldn't have walked out. I was scared. Please. Let me come back. I love you and our son," Mark finally begged. His hand twisted in front of him in a pleading gesture.

"For the last time, you are not getting in here today. We'll see what happens in court. Get a lawyer because we are not getting back together. It's over. Because you were a coward and walked out on your family, disregarding your vows. Now, go away or I will call the police," Alyssa finished and closed the door in his face.

When the door shut, she took a deep breath and discovered that she was utterly calm. Her body relaxed even after that heated exchange. Her decision was made. If Mark wanted to see Hans, he would have to fight for his rights. But she honestly didn't care. She and Hans would be perfectly fine without him.

What can we learn from this story?

• Never assume anything medical until you get all the information. Mark should not have stormed out before Dr. Baker had a chance to tell him everything because a prenatal screening is not a diagnosis. They give the likelihood of the condition.
• When you make vows, you have to honor them. Mark promised to love, cherish, and protect his wife and family. But at the first sign of trouble, he walked out and thought he could return later when everything turned out fine. But sometimes, you don't get second chances.

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If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a man who abandoned his wife for being in a wheelchair. Years later, he saw her with another man.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone's life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.