"Choosing Thomas: A Family's Journey with Infant Death"

Sonya N. Hebert

The Dallas Morning News

Facing death can be hardest for a family expecting new life. This is the story of Deidrea and T.K. Laux, a Dallas-area couple who discovered 20 weeks into their pregnancy that their unborn son had trisomy 13, a random, rare and fatal chromosomal abnormality. They chose to continue the pregnancy, celebrating the upcoming birth of their first child while also preparing for his death. In the end, their son, Thomas, lived for five days. Deidrea and T.K. Laux have pregnancy photos taken at a Dallas area photographer's home. Knowing that Thomas would not live long after delivery, the Lauxes made memories of Thomas while he was in the womb. 'Even with all the heartache thats going to come down the road, hes brought so much joy, to see how much closer weve gotten, to experience being parents,' said Deidrea Laux.

Sonya N. Hebert, " "Choosing Thomas: A Family's Journey with Infant Death"," in POYi Archive, Item #43496, http://archive.poy.org/index.php/items/show/43496 (accessed June 10, 2025).