21 Week, Unborn Baby Holds Doctor’s hand
8 February 2010
14 Comments
Please read this before scrolling down.
This is by far the most touching post I’ve had the pleasure of doing here on baconbabble. I literally stared at the following picture for about twenty minutes. Please note: the picture is graphic and may not be suitable for everyone.
When surgeon Joseph Bruner went in to do surgery on 21 week old unborn baby named Samuel Alexander Armas, after he was diagnosed with Spina Bifida, he had no idea what was about to happen. During the procedure, the doctor removed the uterus, via C-section, then he made a small incision in the mother’s womb so he could operate on little Samuel.
What happened next left everyone who witnessed it speechless…
…Little Samuel Alexander Armas, reached out of the small incision, and took hold of Dr. Bruner’s finger. For a moment, no one moved. They all just stared at this little hand grasping the Dr.’s finger. The doctor was later quoted saying, “it was the most emotional moment of my life.”
The picture was taken on August 19, 1999 by photographer Michael Clancy, who named the photo “Hand of Hope.” Samuel’s mother said after seeing the picture for the first time, she wept. Little Samuel was born in perfect health. The operation was 100% successful.
The Hand of Hope picture was printed in USA today on Sept. 7, 1999. It quickly spread across the globe as proof of development in the womb. It was even used to help pass the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act in 2000.
Here is little Samuel, growing up.
It seems there are many versions to the above story. I told it as it was told to me. Regardless of how the story goes, there doesn’t seem to be any dispute that the picture is real. Did the arm fall out of the womb, or did it reach out and grab the Doctor’s finger? Honestly, I wasn’t there. However, looking at that picture. I really don’t care which it was. We all see what we want to see. I see a baby holding the finger of a doctor helping him. This post was not meant to be some article about is abortion right, or wrong? It was simply about a miracle. A 21 week old miracle.
this is an amazing story….. lets people know the life is still there even tho the baby is not born…. of course i am pro life, but this is a great find! thank you for sharing this
Unbelievable but touching…
wow.. what an article… got goosebumbs.. look at the way the little child holds the hand!!!
Shocking and beautiful..
LOved it
You may want to it up the Snopes website for the real story. Apparently the little guys hand flopped out and the surgeon merely placed it back inside just as the photographer snapped a picture. Its great that things turned out the way they did but to say that the fetus “reached out at took hold of Dr. Bruno’s finger”….Well that’s just….false.
Kudos, Ms. Characterization! You saved me about 15 mins of research. Yeah, after carefully reviewing the facts, I’m STILL pro-abortion. Oh well.
So Nikk, you’re still Pro-Abortion? I guess in your opinion when the doctor took the finger of the baby, he should have just ripped it on out, severed it’s spinal cord, then threw the body in the trash?
Anyone that can look at that picture and that tiny hand, regardless of the circumstances, and still think abortion is okay, is a sick and heartless person.
Thank you. I never, ever, post a comment to web sites. But I HAD to for this. Without a doubt this is the most amazing thing I have seen on the internet in a LONG time.
The story is touching. The picture is miraculous. I was tearing up and smiling at the same time.
You are right. People will see what they want. And this picture can not/should not be used for any argument for or against abortion.
Look at it for what it is. Pure unadulterated beauty.
I agree completely with Mitch, the imagery is beautiful but doesn’t say anything about abortion.
lovely, brilliant image no matter what the back story is. Still I find it rather creepy and mildly disturbing. I don’t mean to be crass or rude but I do find my self thinking of a large number of zombie films every time I dare to look. But may-hap that is because it is an amazingly powerful image.
Side note to Just Me- Still pro choice, and I resent being told that just because I have equally valid ideas and social views I am some how less human than you. The women chose to keep the baby I support her as much as the women who chose to abort. Don’t start insulting people just because their views are different than yours. At least attempt civil discourse.
i have to add that the doctor whose hand is seen in the picture being “grabbed” by the little hand, has come out and explained that the hand didn´t come out by itself, and it didn´t grab him. the hand was out of the opening, and he moved it, and the picture was snapped while he was moving it.
so yeah, it´s not really the heartwarming story that has been circulating for ages. it´s just a random stroke of lucky photography where nothing out of the ordinary is actually happening.
I think this is absolutely beautiful, no matter the circumstances.
No need to shoot down how it came about when all in all it’s a moment to be proud of.
I find this picture both beautiful and amazing, despite the fact that the baby did not actually reach out and grab the doctors hand. I cannot have children of my own and it’s a constant source of pain for me. However, I am now and will always be pro-choice. No person has the right to force their moral concepts on someone else and make that choice for them. Those who are ‘pro-life’ can say what they want, but we live in a world of overpopulation, forcing of religious ideas, and constant dehumanization. I’d like to add that, if I someday can have a child, or I manage an adoption, I will do my best to raise my child to also not force their religious ideas on others.
Pro-Abortion?? or do you mean pro-choice, bad choice of words.
Didn’t I see this EXACT story on House MD?
Leave your response!
Language
Sponsor
Follow BaconBabble on Twitter
Subscribe to Bacon Babble Via Email
Toilet Paper Daily News
Archives
Categories
Also Visit
Latest Posts
Most Commented
Blogroll