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Saturday, April 23, 2016
TV Metereologist Heather Sophia Shares Her Pro-Life Story of Survival, by Rebecca Kiessling
I speak at a multitude of pro-life events, and meet all kinds of wonderful pro-life people, including grass-roots activists, clergy, politicians, and celebrity emcee’s. But Thursday, April
21, 2016, I had the pleasure of meeting someone who really surprised the whole audience with her very own pro-life story at the annual Spring Banquet for Pro-Life Mississippi: WLBT Jackson Meteorologist Heather Sophia. Heather was asked to substitute in last-minute as Master of Ceremonies. It’s nice to know that television personalities are pro-life supporters, but no one knew she actually had her own powerful story to tell, because she had never shared it publicly before.
As the fundraiser was wrapping up, just before giving the financial appeal, Heather began to tell the tragic story of a 16 year old girl who came home from school one day to find her 42 year old mother dead in their home from a massive heart attack. Two weeks later, the teenage girl found out she was pregnant. She talked it over with her family and she was contemplating aborting her baby. But she ultimately decided to choose life, and that baby is now Meteorologist Heather Sophia! The audience was in tears hearing her story – after all, they’d watched her share the weather forecast daily, not knowing how she was almost never born.
After the banquet, Heather allowed me to film her story – a 38 second video now on YouTube. Sharing her story of survival, she explains why she is 100% pro-life, with no exceptions. Here’s a beautiful, young woman and an articulate media personality who is willing to boldly proclaim her own pro-life story of survival. Within a matter of hours, there were over 13,000 views of the Facebook video!
Heather has since detailed more of her history to me so that I may relate it to all of you. Her mom was actually five months pregnant when she finally took a pregnancy test and realized she was pregnant with Heather, so it would have been a dangerous and more expensive late-term abortion. But it was in the South – in Louisiana, and at that time (1980’s), having a child out of wedlock was scandalous. With the love and support of her family however, her mother ultimately made the right decision. Heather doesn’t remember exactly when her mother told her about being nearly-aborted, but she says she just remembers thinking, “Wow, I’m so glad I’m here and that God showed her that life was the only choice.”
Heather’s Mom and Dad married each other and stayed married for 17 years, never having had any other children. So if she’d been aborted, her mother would have aborted the only child she’d ever had.
From the age of 5, Heather had wanted to be a Meteorologist. She says that she has always been inspired by the weather. When growing up in Louisiana, her family had to evacuate from many hurricanes. She recalls going to bed each night right after the evening newscast, having been fascinated by the meteorologist’s weather forecast.
Heather has followed her dream ever since. She’s been blessed with an Edward R. Murrow
Award, twice nominated for an Emmy, and named Feature Reporter of the Year by the Associated Press. How interesting that just as she recalls the meteorologist from her childhood helping to keep her family safe, Heather now helps other families to face the storms in life. And now her personal pro-life witness will likewise do the same.
Upon visiting her Facebook page, you will find that she not only shares the daily forecast, but she regularly posts Scripture verses as well. When I asked Heather, “What is God’s purpose for your life?,” she quickly responded: “To be in His will and to glorify Him!”
BIO: Rebecca Kiessling is a pro-life speaker, writer, attorney, and President of Save The 1 – an organization which educates and inspires on all of the so-called “hard cases” in the abortion debate.
Thursday, March 24, 2016
I Never Associated the Rape With My Daughter, by Wedencise Lubin
As a first generation immigrant from the Caribbean islands, life really came at me fast. In November 2010, at 17 years old, after a lifetime of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of my parents, they decided to rid themselves of the burden of having to live with me. I was a high school senior in Florida at the time -- six months shy of graduation. I had already secured a full scholarship to Howard University in Washington, D.C.. My future was pretty much laid out, so I thought.
Then that's when my parents made the fateful decision two weeks before my 18th birthday to send me to go live with two male relatives, both of whom were notorious for a history of violence against women. I begged and pleaded for my parents to accept me to return back home. I sought outside resources for shelter; but as fate would have it, I would end up living for a total of four months with these men. Within two months of living there, the unthinkable happened: I was brutally raped of my virginity, molested and physically abused in every single way imaginable. I was told by the two male relatives that if I told anyone, I would be killed. To say I was horrified, dehumanized, terrorized and completely shell-shocked is an understatement.
In the summer of 2011, during a routine physical for college, I learned that I was six weeks pregnant as a direct result of the incestuous rape. I was a virgin when the rape took place and I had never been with any other man. My doctor was just as devastated as I was. I remember the doctor and nurse practitioner repeatedly telling me they were “so sorry that this has happened.” Immediately, my doctor told me I had three options: 1, Abort the baby 2, Adoption and 3, Keep my baby. This was not a tough decision for me. I am and have always been pro-life. What furthered my convictions was that my doctor ordered an ultrasound for me at six weeks pregnant. As soon as I saw that ultrasound, I realized that I was carrying a human life inside of me. No matter what, I did not have it in my heart to terminate this human life, regardless of the heinous, barbaric crime that had been perpetrated upon me. I never associated my unborn baby as being responsible.
Of course the rapist demanded I get an abortion and my family demanded I give the baby up for adoption. Adoption was not an option for me because I was already beginning to bond deeply with the unborn child I was carrying. No matter what, this was MY child! This was my flesh and blood and I was her mother. In February, 2012, I gave birth to my daughter Valencia Marie. Having my daughter alone at 19 years old, even though I was terrified, confused and shaking, when my mid wife handed me my child, I knew it was love at first sight.
By 2012 a full-on criminal case investigation was in full effect to get my rapist convicted of the crimes he perpetrated against me. After immense pressure from my family, I pursued child support. In retaliation, the rapist filed for partial custody of my daughter and then for full custody. I fought hard to protect my daughter from this monster. Luckily, the courts did not grant my rapist any parenting time and he has never spent time with my daughter, though he's still fighting me in court. Along the way, I never ever regretted not choosing abortion or adoption. Raising my daughter has been completely worth it. I never associated the rape with my daughter.
I am so thankful to be a mother. First and foremost, my biggest blessing in life is my daughter. This gorgeous, intelligent child never ceases to amaze me. Each and every day I fall more and more in love with her personality, her charm, and her bright energy. Being a mother is absolutely the gift that keeps on giving. I learn more about my daughter each day as she learns more about me. I am absolutely a loving nurturer, so being a mom just always came naturally to me. It is truly something I wake up every day thankful for, because I know there are some people who cannot have children. So the fact that I get to experience this great milestone in life is a huge blessing. I await the day I am blessed with more children in the distant future. The fact that my own mother was very awful to me and never loved me, taught me that a mother’s love is undoubtedly one of the most important forms
of love in a person’s life.
True Love is when I look into my daughter’s eyes. Valencia is the love of my life. And whenever I have more children, they will always be the most amazing love of my life. To be a mother really shows you the love your capable of. I would gladly die for my daughter. I want nothing more than for my daughter Valencia to feel the endless love my heart has for her and for her to have all the happiness in the world. I want to raise my daughter to know that no matter how far we are, our souls are connected and that nothing can ever break our bond. There is nothing my daughter can ever do that can limit my love for her. This is the type of motherly love I will always have for any future children as well.
I went on to attend technical school and graduate with a certificate in Medical Administration. I am now earning my Bachelors in Health Services Administration, then I plan on earning my Master's in Management. I currently work in medical education at the largest medical school in the country. Later on down the road, I plan on becoming a Hospital Administrator or working in Emergency management, since I handle crisis very well. So you see, having an unplanned pregnancy out of rape, in no way ruined my life or my education.
I have never loved my child any less because of her biological father. Often people ask me how I feel about my daughter because her father is a monster who brutally raped me. I ask them a rhetorical question: "If a child's biological father was Hitler, Saddam Hussein, or Bin Laden, does that make them less of a child worthy of endless love?" The fact of the matter is NO, absolutely not! As human beings, we do not choose who our biological parents are. Whether it be a serial killer or a rapist, that child is pure, and that child is innocent. That child is a new life. I believe new life begins at conception. In the future, when I have more children, I know for sure I will not view little Valencia who was conceived from rape any different from my children conceived in wedlock.
BIO: Wedencise "Wendi" Lubin resides in Florida and is a mother, college student, and blogger for Save The 1, as well as active with Hope After Rape Conception.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Abortion Ban in Chile Saved My Life, by Karina Silva
My mother was sexually abused at age 15 and because of this violation, she became pregnant. In those years, talking about sexuality or any similar theme was abhorrent to society of that time and partly because of the shame and disrepute to any family. My unwed mother faced this situation for six months and had to endure the fact of living a few meters from her abuser. After this time, her pregnancy belly began to grow becoming evident; I could not continue to be hidden.
It was a terrible time for my family -- a shame, a reason not to lift her head, but the faith of my grandmother changed everything now. She decided, as guardian of my life and as being responsible as my mother, to give me the chance to live for the sake of God and trusting that His purposes are perfect for every human being, even in what seems to be adverse circumstances. My mom gave birth to me January 27, 1989. I was born under poor economic conditions, in the midst of a family crisis and of course, during very sad moments.
My mom could not endure so much pain, so she left home leaving me in the care of my grandmother for approximately 16 years. During my early years, my mom tried to be as present as possible in my growth, but from afar. The time and distance separated us every day.
I grew up in an evangelical Christian home, I spent my childhood and my education as a person in a Pentecostal congregation, which changed my way of thinking and living, and it also gave me value -- that value that had been snatched from me by society, along with the lack of networks and support for a situation like ours.
At 16 years old, I faced a very strong existential crisis. I was going through my teens and wanted to find an answer, a reason for everything. I had lost the will to live, so they took me to psychologists and psychiatrists; I received various treatments, but nothing worked. One day, I decided to disappear in response to the need to know why I was not born in a normal family, consisting of my parents, brothers, etc.. Every day I lived was painful for me, so I took what I perceived to be "the easy way out" -- I attempted suicide with pills. I had hit rock bottom. but God in His infinite mercy saved my life and gave me a reason to live, a hope, a salvation.
He pulled me out of despair and brought me peace, I realized that with God, everything has its reason, and we are all valuable to regardless of the mode or condition with which we come into this world. There are many reasons why I get up every morning and I thank God for the new day.
The road has not been easy for me, as with many others. God put in my hands all necessary measures and tools to face my life, to overcome my fears, but more importantly, He reminded me that He loves me and He cared for me from the womb of my mother -- every detail of every last hair on my head. He reminded me that I am not alone, and I've never been alone. Psalms 27:10 says: "Although my father and mother leave me, the Lord will receive me." This is like many a promise fulfilled in my life!
I am now 27 years old. At my side, I have a wonderful man who loves me with my strengths and weaknesses. I'm the mother of two beautiful children -- one is 3 and the other not yet born. The struggle continues because every day we have giants to face; about a year ago, I detected type 2 diabetes, and in the following months became pregnant, which is considered to be a high-risk pregnancy because it can cause many complications in my condition, with risks to me and to my baby. But here I am still struggling with the help of God,
I love living! And I appreciate every second that I have, I do not worry myself about what happened, or what will come tomorrow. I live day to day, thanking the good and the bad circumstances, after all, we are a miracle of God.
As for the relationship with my mother, exactly 3 years ago an event occurred that marked our lives -- the arrival of my first child. I was able to share with her at the time of her birth, and it was a special moment and a new opportunity for us. We are more united than ever, We are slowly recovering all the time we lost.
Until 1989, in Chile abortion was legal, but just in the same year -- the year I was born -- that law was abolished. For me it was not a coincidence -- it was the hand of God, but not only on my behalf but also for many others who deserved to live.
Am I happy? Of course! Immensely -- not because my life is easy -- it is simply because I cling to my faith, that faith that believes the impossible. Perhaps to society my life was written for a failure, but it was not! My mom tells me "we turned her hand to the destination daughter."
I want to tell everyone who reaches this witness of life; those confused mothers, young adolescents as was my mother, that life is a miracle of God, and that harder and crueler than the situation, is abortion because all deserve to live. Abortion is not a solution; the real solution is to form support networks in such dire situations like this. Maybe if my mother had had more support, it would have been another story.
The solution is not the approval of abortion in Chile -- the solution is to form support networks in our country for these cases. No way is easy. The two options -- abortion and delivering a live baby, life and death -- generate some pain and for some people deeper than others, but there is a big difference between the two: life is hope, life is a miracle; abortion is murder, abortion is pain.
God's will is perfect and I stick to that. Perhaps I am a fanatic to many, but that fanaticism saved my life and thank God today I have a wonderful life. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen."
http://www.salvarel1.blogspot.com/2016/03/mi-madre-me-dijo-le-torcimos-la-mano-al.html
BIO: Karina Silva lives with her husband and children in Santiago, Chile. She is a blogger for Save
The 1 and wants to help build a network of Spanish-speaking women who became pregnant by rape and those conceived in rape, through Salvar El 1.
It was a terrible time for my family -- a shame, a reason not to lift her head, but the faith of my grandmother changed everything now. She decided, as guardian of my life and as being responsible as my mother, to give me the chance to live for the sake of God and trusting that His purposes are perfect for every human being, even in what seems to be adverse circumstances. My mom gave birth to me January 27, 1989. I was born under poor economic conditions, in the midst of a family crisis and of course, during very sad moments.
My mom could not endure so much pain, so she left home leaving me in the care of my grandmother for approximately 16 years. During my early years, my mom tried to be as present as possible in my growth, but from afar. The time and distance separated us every day.
I grew up in an evangelical Christian home, I spent my childhood and my education as a person in a Pentecostal congregation, which changed my way of thinking and living, and it also gave me value -- that value that had been snatched from me by society, along with the lack of networks and support for a situation like ours.
At 16 years old, I faced a very strong existential crisis. I was going through my teens and wanted to find an answer, a reason for everything. I had lost the will to live, so they took me to psychologists and psychiatrists; I received various treatments, but nothing worked. One day, I decided to disappear in response to the need to know why I was not born in a normal family, consisting of my parents, brothers, etc.. Every day I lived was painful for me, so I took what I perceived to be "the easy way out" -- I attempted suicide with pills. I had hit rock bottom. but God in His infinite mercy saved my life and gave me a reason to live, a hope, a salvation.
He pulled me out of despair and brought me peace, I realized that with God, everything has its reason, and we are all valuable to regardless of the mode or condition with which we come into this world. There are many reasons why I get up every morning and I thank God for the new day.
The road has not been easy for me, as with many others. God put in my hands all necessary measures and tools to face my life, to overcome my fears, but more importantly, He reminded me that He loves me and He cared for me from the womb of my mother -- every detail of every last hair on my head. He reminded me that I am not alone, and I've never been alone. Psalms 27:10 says: "Although my father and mother leave me, the Lord will receive me." This is like many a promise fulfilled in my life!
I am now 27 years old. At my side, I have a wonderful man who loves me with my strengths and weaknesses. I'm the mother of two beautiful children -- one is 3 and the other not yet born. The struggle continues because every day we have giants to face; about a year ago, I detected type 2 diabetes, and in the following months became pregnant, which is considered to be a high-risk pregnancy because it can cause many complications in my condition, with risks to me and to my baby. But here I am still struggling with the help of God, 
As for the relationship with my mother, exactly 3 years ago an event occurred that marked our lives -- the arrival of my first child. I was able to share with her at the time of her birth, and it was a special moment and a new opportunity for us. We are more united than ever, We are slowly recovering all the time we lost.
Until 1989, in Chile abortion was legal, but just in the same year -- the year I was born -- that law was abolished. For me it was not a coincidence -- it was the hand of God, but not only on my behalf but also for many others who deserved to live.
Am I happy? Of course! Immensely -- not because my life is easy -- it is simply because I cling to my faith, that faith that believes the impossible. Perhaps to society my life was written for a failure, but it was not! My mom tells me "we turned her hand to the destination daughter."
I want to tell everyone who reaches this witness of life; those confused mothers, young adolescents as was my mother, that life is a miracle of God, and that harder and crueler than the situation, is abortion because all deserve to live. Abortion is not a solution; the real solution is to form support networks in such dire situations like this. Maybe if my mother had had more support, it would have been another story.
The solution is not the approval of abortion in Chile -- the solution is to form support networks in our country for these cases. No way is easy. The two options -- abortion and delivering a live baby, life and death -- generate some pain and for some people deeper than others, but there is a big difference between the two: life is hope, life is a miracle; abortion is murder, abortion is pain.
God's will is perfect and I stick to that. Perhaps I am a fanatic to many, but that fanaticism saved my life and thank God today I have a wonderful life. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen."
http://www.salvarel1.blogspot.com/2016/03/mi-madre-me-dijo-le-torcimos-la-mano-al.html
BIO: Karina Silva lives with her husband and children in Santiago, Chile. She is a blogger for Save
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