<\/p>\n
While it is not an illness or disease, it causes varying levels of intellectual disability and characteristic physical features.<\/p>\n
If discovered during early foetal testing, parents are generally given two primary choices: continue the pregnancy, or a medical termination, allowing them to make a personal, informed choice. <\/p>\n
Ridgway, 33, said he and his wife, 31, ultimately chose the latter, stressing: \u201cThe choice was not made lightly.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are devastated. This has been extremely traumatic for both of us, especially Ashley.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe underwent the procedure earlier this week and is on the mend. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, but emotionally we are drained.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, shortly after sharing the heartbreaking update, Ridgway revealed the couple had been targeted by extreme pro-life activists who had accused them of being \u201cmurderers\u201d and had flooded them with \u201cdeath threats\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never seen such hate and vitriol for two people grieving the loss of their unborn child and making an impossible decision,\u201d he said in a statement shared across various social media platforms. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe last 24 hours have exposed a side of humanity that is deeply disturbing.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing called \u2018murderous pieces of sh*t, evil, compared to Hitler\u2019 and receiving NON-STOP DEATH THREATS.\u201d<\/p>\n
He continued: \u201cWhat\u2019s more troubling is a lot of these people use God or Jesus as their justification for threatening us and wanting to cast us into Hell\u2026seems pretty hypocritical.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere has been some heinous sh*t said about my wife and I on some extremely large accounts.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt baffles me that there are such trashy-ass people who have significant followings. If you can\u2019t contribute anything meaningful to the conversation aside from insults then just don\u2019t post.\u201d<\/p>\n
The popular YouTube star added: \u201cThe reason this blew up is quite simple, it\u2019s because nobody talks about it.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t blame people for not talking about these vulnerable experiences publicly because you see the disgusting backlash that ensues. It\u2019s very divisive. Luckily, after 20 years on the internet, this is par the course for me taking on the crazies, so I\u2019m glad I can help further the conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n
He went on to praise his \u201cbad-ass\u201d wife and thanked those who have \u201cbeen supportive during this difficult time and defending our choice as parents\u201d. <\/p>\n
Despite his plea for the abuse to stop, the posts had amassed thousands of comments on Facebook, the vast majority of which were in the negative. <\/p>\n