My wife's 'unadoptable' baby was left to die at unmarried mothers' home
Summary
A study found that sick babies who were considered "unadoptable" were left to die at St Monica’s Maternity Home, a church-run home for unmarried mothers in Cumbria. Judith, a mother who lost her disabled baby there in 1964, was denied proper medical care for her son because he was disabled and born out of wedlock.Key Facts
- St Monica’s Maternity Home operated from 1918 to 1970 in Kendal, Cumbria, and was run by the Church of England.
- Babies born to unmarried mothers were often hidden from society and sometimes forcibly adopted.
- Judith’s son Stephen was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, serious medical conditions, and died after 11 weeks without hospital care.
- A report by Dr. Michael Lambert found that disabled babies like Stephen were denied proper medical treatment because they were seen as unsuitable for adoption.
- The culture at the home prioritized secrecy and giving healthy babies up for adoption over medical care for sick infants.
- After losing her son, Judith became a nurse but was deeply traumatized and died by suicide in 2006.
- The report and findings have been passed on to Cumbria Police for further investigation.
- At least 400 babies were adopted from St Monica’s during its operation, but some were allowed to die because they were "undesirable."
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