The Rare Life

196: One & Done | Deciding Not to Have More Children After Disability


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When your child has complex medical needs, the question of more children isn’t always simple.

And for some parents of disabled children, the decision to stop at one might not even feel like a decision at all.

In this episode, Alyssa shares responses from hundreds of parents who live in this reality: the sadness of not giving their child a sibling, the guilt of choices that never felt like choices, the relief of knowing their family is complete, and the complicated emotions that sit in between.

If you’ve felt sadness, certainty—or both at the same time—about stopping at one, we hope this episode will feel deeplyfamiliar.

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The Rare LifeBy Madeline Cheney

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