[DiamondSmiles]

There is a news video clip here, but, I cannot get it to download.

http://6abc.com/family/bucket-list-r...parents/311836

WPVI
By Sharrie Williams

September 16, 2014

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- An expectant mom and dad from our area are helping their baby live its life to the fullest before he is even born.

High school sweethearts, Jenna and Dan Haley, were thrilled when they learned they were expecting their first child.

"Growing up with so many younger brothers, I couldn't wait to be a dad; I felt like a dad for most of my life, just to have my own would have been awesome," Dan said.

Jenna is actually nine months pregnant.

They've already picked out a name for their baby boy - Shane.

The pregnancy was going fine until the third month when the Drexel Hill pair was in a minor car accident.

No one was hurt, but they wanted to be sure Shane was ok, so they went to the doctor.

That's when they received news no one anticipated.

"I got a text from her saying, 'call me.' I knew something was wrong," Dan said.

Shane had anencephaly, a serious birth defect in which a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull.

"It was tough to hear, it was a shock," Dan said.

"I told him, 'we're going to carry him but he's not going to make it,'" Jenna said.

Babies only live a few hours, maybe a few days, after birth.

The couple decided to go forward with their baby announcement as planned, posting a message on Facebook telling the world they were proud parents of a baby named Shane who only had months to live.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Praye...73385939350283

Then, they decided to create a bucket list for their baby, in order to make the most out of the time they have remaining with their unborn son.

"He's still our son. So while he's with us, let's show him all the love we can, let's do everything we can with him, let's make some memories with him because he's still our little boy," Dan said.

Shane was diagnosed with a birth defect in which babies are born without a part of the skull and brain. After this, his parents decided to make a, 'bucket list,' for him.

Shane was diagnosed with a birth defect in which babies are born without a part of the skull and brain. After this his parents decided to make a, 'bucket list,' for him.

And so one by one - Flyers game, SpongeBob popsicles, cheesesteaks at Geno's, trip to New York - they crossed a to-do off their list.

All the while, Shane was the main attraction.

"Everyone was just, 'oh my goodness, are you having a boy?' Everyone was just noticing him," Jenna said.

The couple's story began to spread like wildfire on social media and the support began to pour in for a couple dealing with a rare and heartbreaking medical reality.

"The other moms, we'd been in a support group, these are the people who helped us and hearing we're helping other people, it was nice. Every single day, I feel there's been a pick me up," Jenna said.

The couple feared no one would know who their son was, but Shane's story has inspired and touched people all around the world.

"Just to see the impact of Shane's life, even though he hasn't been born yet, he's obviously made his mark already on the world and that's pretty amazing. It's a miracle in itself," Dan said.

The couple has checked off everything on Shane's bucket list.

For more information on anencephaly, as well to learn about a study being conducted by Duke University to determine the causes of this neural tube defect, visit http://dmpi.duke.edu/anencephaly.

[Megamel29]

That's depressing. Good for them doing what they can to deal with it. I feel for them.

[DiamondSmiles]

Originally Posted by Megamel29 ↗

That's depressing. Good for them doing what they can to deal with it. I feel for them.

Thanks to DR, I would like to think I would have terminated the pregnancy at 3 months. You can see on the ultrasound what he looks like.

Maybe, they are hoping for a miracle that is not going to come.

Things like this make me more furious about the people who kill their babies!

[ralucagymnast]

Originally Posted by diamondsmiles ↗

Thanks to DR, I would like to think I would have terminated the pregnancy at 3 months. You can see on the ultrasound what he looks like.

Maybe, they are hoping for a miracle that is not going to come.

Things like this make me more furious about the people who kill their babies!

Its very sad about this baby and I agree with what you said; I think I would have terminated the pregnancy too; anencephaly is not conducive with life. And I think its so unfair that there are people like this couple who are desperate to have a child, yet you see crackheads and smackheads getting pregnant and having their kids taken off them So wrong.

[cheekymarls]

One has to count their blessings when like myself having 3 perfectly healthy children
From the egg to sperm and 9 months later to have a healthy birth of a baby - no wonder it called a miracle

[ralucagymnast]

Originally Posted by cheekymarls ↗

One has to count their blessings when like myself having 3 perfectly healthy children
From the egg to sperm and 9 months later to have a healthy birth of a baby - no wonder it called a miracle

I feel blessed too; two children. We are indeed very fortunate; Ill have to remember that when theyre stressing me out lol!

[30564U]

Ah...by the way...are they still in high school? It's not like they're only going to have this one chance of getting pregnant...they look awfully young. Sad case though.

[cheekymarls]

Originally Posted by ralucagymnast ↗

I feel blessed too; two children. We are indeed very fortunate; Ill have to remember that when theyre stressing me out lol!

haha me too come to think of it :)

[Pyramid_Head]

I think it's a bit selfish to allow the baby to be born with a horrible deformity. But I guess some people are different.

[DiamondSmiles]

Originally Posted by 30564U ↗

Ah...by the way...are they still in high school? It's not like they're only going to have this one chance of getting pregnant...they look awfully young. Sad case though.

No. They met in high school and were sweethearts since then. I'm guessing mid-20s or so.

OK. They found out about the deformity 2 weeks before their 4th wedding anniversary, so my guess should be about right. Her maiden name is Gassew. They are registered at Babys R Us.

Dan was 25 on September 1st. Jenna was 22 on March 25th. Her birthdate is on the ultrasound!