Inconceivable, by Carolyn and Sean Savage

I was asked if I'd like to read a copy of Inconceivable: A Medical Mistake, the Baby We Couldn't Keep, and Our Choice to Deliver the Ultimate Gift. I vaguely recalled their story from news articles I read at the time that it was discovered that a fertility clinic implanted the wrong embryo into Carolyn Savage during what should have been a "routine" IVF procedure back in February 2009. The Savage family, upon discovering the mistake, decided against aborting the child - even though it was not their own - and decided to give it life instead. Furthermore, they opted not to engage in any type of custody battle but decided to turn the child over upon birth to the biological parents.

This book is their story of hopeful anticipation, heart ache, despair, sacrifice and joyful pain.

I'm not here to debate the issue of IVF - just to talk about the book and the Savage's story. Carolyn, Sean and their family are Catholic and the Catholic church is opposed to the idea of IVF, but Carolyn and Sean felt that their desire to have a family was a godly endeavor. They had always dreamed of having a large family but Carolyn had infertility issues which made conceiving quite difficult. Although they did end up having two sons in the natural way, their young daughter was born as a result of IVF. They longed to have at least four children and despite Carolyn's difficulty in child bearing and delivery, they opted to try for one more. Carolyn was 40 years old when the embryos were implanted in her and it was devastating to them to receive the phone call that they were indeed pregnant, but not with their own child. Their last chance at being pregnant and having a fourth child was now beyond them and instead of getting to birth and welcome a child into their home and family, they had to birth a child and give it away.

I read this book when I was weeks away from delivering my own daughter (and I'm actually writing up this review while still pregnant - even though it will not post until after the fact.) I personally cannot fathom carrying a child and then having to give it up. As an adoptive mother, I cannot imagine what emotions the birth mother of my son did and has experienced since saying goodbye to her first born. She doesn't know where he is every day or what he's doing. She has no idea how he is developing or what his personality is like. She carried him for nine months only to give him up into an unknown situation. Were I her, I don't know that I would deal with it very well. I have a hard time envisioning birthing a daughter only to have her rolled out of the room and placed into someone else's arms. It makes me heartsick to think about it! It made me heartsick for the Savages (especially Carolyn) to read this book. Maybe this was the right time for me to read this book. Maybe it was the wrong time. Regardless, I was enthralled with their honesty, raw emotions and even their joy in knowing that - regardless of their own pain - they were giving the gift of life to a precious human being.

Really, my biggest issue with this book was their theology, which I did not agree with whole heartedly. Carolyn emphasized over and over again how she did not believe God was involved in this mistake for surely He would not just allow things like this to happen. She reiterated that God is a God of love who would only ever allow kind things to happen to people. Anything bad that happens is removed from God and has no particular point or purpose. She does not see that good can come out of this situation for their family - although she does believe that giving life to someone is a good thing. I was continuously reminded of this passage from The Book of Job (Bible) when reading their story:

1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

3And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Job 2:1-10 (emphasis mine)

We are always very ready to bless the Lord and thank Him for the things we perceive as being "good" in our lives, aren't we? A bonus at work? Praise the Lord! Health? Hallelujah! A houseful of children that we desperately wanted? AMEN!

When the hard times we are more apt to want to respond as Job's wife did - with denials of God's goodness. His ways are NOT our ways and our thoughts are NOT our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8) What we forget is that God's plan is better than ours and while we might not understand it, we should still praise Him in the darkest storm. We are more than conquerors in Him and nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:31-39) - not even what appears to be a bad situation.

Now, I am certainly not discounting the Savages pain. It runs very deep. As they pointed out, giving up the baby at birth is like experiencing a death. I know that even in our own adoption story we "lost" our first referral when the foster mother decided to adopt the child herself. We had connected with the child and it was devastating to have this child who was already in our hearts ripped away from us. It felt like a death. And the child wasn't even inside of me! I simply cannot fathom the depths of what they felt. However, I do think it's important not to deny the sovereign goodness of God and perfection of Who He Is. It is not healthy, beneficial or in any way theologically accurate. We wound ourselves further when we shove God away and say, "YOU wouldn't do this to me so I don't think I can talk to you about (fill in the blank)! CLEARLY someone messed up. You are not in this." God has to be in things. Without God's involvement, I can only imagine feeling like I was in the depths of despair. I am certainly not discounting their feelings or emotions - just saying that their view of God cost them peace which passes human understanding which would be terrifying to me, were I in their position.

That all said, I also feel equally sympathetic towards them. Carrying a baby to term was something that Carolyn had a difficulty doing in the past and it made me feel a little guilty to read her book and know that my baby was sitting tight (not wanting to come out apparently!) because everything was healthy and going "as planned." Reading this when healthily pregnant, knowing I was going to be able to hold my baby and keep her afterwards, caused a tear or two to fall. It's always interesting to hear someone else's story and learn their perspective. (Not saying I wouldn't have gone for an early c-section or something. I don't particularly enjoy pregnancy. Being honest here! Nothing has changed about the way I view my own discomfort levels!) I much prefer having a babe in arms. But the point is - I have a baby in my arms. The Savage family ended up without this joy - and their story can definitely soften one's heart!

Inconceivable was a very interesting, insightful and engaging read. It is a hard read, jam packed full of emotions but also filled with the message that life is sacred and meant to be carried to term and protected. I very much appreciated that aspect and message of the book.

Thank you FSB media for sending me a copy of this book to read and think about it! It was definitely an eye-opening , inspiring, and thought-provoking read.

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P.S. The Savages just recently gave an interview on the Today Show which you might be interested in watching, following the conclusion of their journey mentioned in this book.