Powerful story, fabulous writing, but what horrible decision to be asked to make. It raises all sorts of ethical and moral questions, as these comments indicate. I presume your mother wasn’t in a state to answer. Back then, so often women were so drugged during the birth process, they wouldn’t be lucid, so I’ll not judge the dr who asked your father instead of your parents…together. But until we are placed in this situation, unprepared to answer such a question, none of us have a right to judge anyone for their decision. I’d like to think my husband would choose me, and perhaps if you’d already had brothers and sisters to be cared for, your dad may have chosen your mom. Who knows? What do know, is every expectant parent should have this discussion BEFORE they are about to give birth, and have signed, written consent. Because no one person should ever have to make this decision on their own.