Image Source: Chicago Suntimes
No parent wants to miss out on the joys of parenthood and everything it has to offer. As parents, we want to witness every moment with our children — the pregnancy, the birth, their first cry, their first words, their first steps, to name a few. Sadly, two couples from Los Angeles were deprived of their respective child’s many firsts. The reason behind this unfortunate incident was sheer negligence on the part of the hospital, namely, an embryo mixup.
How It All Started
Image: New York Post
Alexander Cardinales was all set to become a proud father for the second time. He and his wife Daphna had waited a long time to complete their idea of a happy family, so they tried their hand at In Vitro Fertilization. The first attempt had failed, but the second was a success, and they couldn’t have been happier. On the day of his child’s birth, the father waited in anticipation. Every father dreams of the moment when they hold their child for the first time in their arms — it is a special moment that happens just once. But when Alexander held his long-awaited second child for the first time, he didn’t feel what he had expected to feel. Instead, it felt like something did not add up.
But then again, not all parents bond immediately with their children. It may happen immediately for some, while for others, it is a slower process. Days soon passed into weeks, and the love for the child only grew — but so did the niggling doubt. Both Daphna and Alexander Cardinales loved their child, and so did their first daughter, seven-year-old Olivia. But somewhere at the back of their minds, the parents knew something had to be done. So, they went ahead with a DNA test. Two months after the birth of their second child, the DNA test confirmed their worst suspicions — the baby was in no way related to them.
What Went Wrong
Image: Los Angeles Times
The California Center For Reproductive Health happened to be a trusted fertility clinic recommended by friends and family. The doctor in charge, Doctor Eliran Mor, was recommended by friends as well. The clinic had mixed up the embryo of both the couples, and this mixup resulted in the couple carrying each other’s babies.
Alexander Cardinales and Daphna Cardinales decided to go public with what happened, while the other couple chose to keep their identities hidden. However, both couples have decided to sue the hospital for what went down. Negligent infliction of emotional stress, medical malpractice, and negligence were three of the ten complaints included in the lawsuit.
Due to the hospital’s negligence, both couples were deprived of carrying their own child, giving birth to them, and spending the first few months of their children’s lives. The Cardinales held a press conference, and the wife shared how childbirth was a special time. Still, her memories of this profound moment were forever tainted with the bitter reality that her biological child was carried by someone else and not herself.
Daphna Cardinales shared that she and her husband were not the only ones affected in their family; Olivia, their first child, was going through mental and emotional trauma of her own. Olivia now has trust issues with her parents — a child who loved to be hugged and cuddled before has set solid boundaries and is blatant about her personal space. She now has trouble believing that her parents can take care of her and is struggling to understand how her “little sister” turned out to be anything but, and a stranger, would be her new sibling.
A Bittersweet Ending
Image: Twitter
What happened to the Cardinales and the other couple is tragic, and nothing can justify their loss. But the couple is trying hard to make do with what they can. On the one hand, they have to form a bond with their biological child, while on the other hand, they have to heal from the loss of what they thought was their biological child. Both parents weren’t ready to sever the bond they had with the child they gave birth to, so they made it a point to be in each other’s lives. On birthdays, festivals, and special occasions, they see the child they gained and the child they lost — a classic story of strangers who were forced to be family due to circumstances.
Sadly, this is not the first case of an embryo mixup, nor will it be the last: not when medical staff can be so careless about something that is this serious. The Cardinales got a little lucky in finding their biological child and vice versa, but not everyone has this bittersweet ending. Plenty of people are victims of embryo mix-ups, and what’s heartbreaking is that some parents won’t even realize it has happened. We hope the medical system gets its act together and parents who have been at the receiving end of such atrocities find the justice they deserve. Have you witnessed something similar to this? What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments below!
