Friday, September 9, 2016

This Child Born From a Rape Turned Tragedy Into Something Beautiful, by Kathryne Taylor

On Dec. 22, 2008, I was raped. Perhaps you can imagine how difficult it is to relive a rape, so I will not go into the details. On the following day, I went to the doctor and was given medicine for prevention of diseases and the morning after pill – which I later learned is potentially an abortifacient.  Six weeks later, I went to the doctor and underwent blood testing, but I was not given a standard pregnancy test.  However, a couple of days later, their doctor’s office called to tell me I was pregnant!  
I was scared as hell, and perplexed.  See, I always tried and wanted to get pregnant over the years by the guys I loved, but never could.  I thought I was infertile, so of course, I was shocked and surprised.

Immediately, I thought about an abortion when told I was six weeks along, but given the price which I could not afford, I was crushed! Then I contemplated self-aborting and the thought made me sick, so I decided on adoption. But I still had regrets of carrying a baby conceived from the rape.

I called and met with an adoption agency. They wanted me to sign papers right away, and they also asked me about getting screened for Down Syndrome because I was older.  Whether the baby had Down Syndrome made no difference to me, so this really troubled me and left me uncomfortable with the agency.

I spoke to a Facebook friend Ralph (God bless him) and he mentioned he had a sister near me who could speak at her church about my situation.  A few hours later, I received two phone calls -- one of them was Karen, who is a blessing and an angel sent from above. She told me she would be willing to either help me raise the child or she would adopt the baby.  I was stunned to hear that she truly cared about me, whether or not she ultimately adopted the baby.  I met up with her later that week.  She bought me my favorite doughnuts (which I never told her they were,) and we spoke at length. 

Karen told me she had two little boys who were adopted. We quickly bonded and she told me that she loved me, and I could see how genuine she was!  

Well, our first doctor’s appointment was very emotional.  She explained to the doctor my situation. Also, my deepest regret is that I was abusing drugs. We found out I was 6-8 weeks pregnant.  We did the ultrasound and heard the baby's heartbeat.  When she first heard the baby's heartbeat, I knew this was right and I loved her.  I swore and promised Karen I would not do drugs during this journey.  

During my pregnancy, we did everything together. I was carrying her baby and I was, as we jokingly said, "The Incubator." I know that a lot of people would be offended to read such a thing, but I just want to give you an idea of how well we bonded -- that we were able to actually joke around like that.  As we went through the journey, I saw the baby grow inside her heart, as I was just caring a baby that God meant to be given a chance at life.  

We learned the sex of the baby -- he was a boy!  Karen was so loving and still is a caring person who had seven children and had more love to give to more babies. Thankfully, I was just carrying one. But she drove nearly three hours each week to go through the precious journey with me.  I saw the sonograms at check-ups, and I was amazed.

See, if you are given or blessed with a baby conceived by a rape, you can turn a tragedy into something wonderful. Karen is such a beautiful woman with a loving soul and I am so very lucky to have met and chose her. She even helped me with getting out of my bad apartment and found me a new one with donations of furniture. She understood I struggled with mental illness, so we took all precautions and went to counseling. I was very happy that I met someone who loved me and the baby unconditionally.

We learned that the baby was due around September, 2009. I dropped my old friends as she blessed me by introducing me to her family and friends, and God. It was a hard journey that turned into something very precious. My ob/gyn was understanding while I battled very bad morning sickness. Oh, and I forgot to mention I had Hepatitis C from a previous rape, so this was a delicate matter.

We agreed on a C-section. While I saw my doctor one day, he told us he wanted to induce labor. When we got to the hospital, we were then told I was progressing rapidly and that I was going to have a natural childbirth! Say whaaat? So as I was going through contractions, I knew that we were going through this together. Late on September 11, 2009 the baby was born as Karen and Bobby (her husband) went through a very memorable birth. 

Once I delivered, Bobby went off with the baby but Karen stood by me until she was confident I was okay. And then she finally met her son. I never saw him, but she was so very happy and moved.  He is a very loved and happy little one!  

Karen is still and will always be a part of my life. But I learned that this child born from a rape turned tragedy into something beautiful. I do not have nightmares about the rape. I gave Karen and her family an eternal and precious gift! That was the experience. I am very happy that he was not aborted. God made it this way. It was all of us -- our journey. What I lost, I gave something special. Turning a tragedy into a precious gift -- it was a beautiful journey.  And I will always carry him in my heart. I made Karen and her family into something more than special. It was a blessing.


If you have been raped and find that you are pregnant, you too can turn something so horrible into something incredible and special.
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BIO:  Kathryne Taylor, a birthmother from rape, resides in Little Rock, Arkansas, and is a Save The 1.
blogger for
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Monday, August 29, 2016

Gerard Nadal: Apologist for Pro-Life Exceptions Strikes Again, by SarahSt. Onge


A short time ago, Gerard Nadal, apologist extraordinaire for pro-life exceptions, posted a social media status update which essentially claimed those of us who fought against exceptions in pro-life legislation were making "idols of our consciences". The accolades for his outrageous statement were (sadly) generally supportive from his followers.



 In the past, he has also positioned himself as morally superior by declaring us "petulant" for wanting to save the lives of babies who would be passed over by laws riddled with exceptions. He was supported by his followers in this characterization of us as well.

The problem with his position is his refusal to even entertain the possibility of passing no exceptions pro-life laws. For a man who claims to have such an immense faith in a God who can work any wonder, his lack of belief in this matter is troubling.

Politics has fooled people into believing that exceptions are necessary to pass pro-life laws.  

This is incorrect.

First, we need to acknowledge that when we speak of "exceptions," we are generally speaking of classes of persons targeted within legislation which prohibit abortions after 20-24 weeks, as most states allow unfettered abortion up until then.

As of late, exceptions apply to late-term abortion laws.

There have been a number of significant pieces of state-level legislation which contain no exceptions for abortions (please see footnote).

Alabama, Michigan, Indiana, and Wyoming are just a few states which do not have exceptions in their late-term abortion laws. (Note, link is a pro-choice resource because Americans United For Life which tracks pro-life legislation has made the decision not to track exceptions within abortion legislation -- a distinct indication of its relevance to them.)

It is simply not true that pro-life persons cannot pass abortion laws without exceptions: even New York, which has some of the most permissive abortion laws in the US, does not have exception clauses in its abortion cut-off.

Let me repeat that:

New York does not have exceptions in their late-term abortion legislation -- the state we all lament for its high abortion rates and its war against African-American babies. 


That state, has no exceptions.


This lie that exceptions are necessary has been perpetuated for too long.  We are blatantly attacked by the likes of Gerard Nadal for speaking this truth, and it's time we push back!

We don't need exceptions in abortion limitations to push them through the legislative process.

When we've come to a point where the most pro-choice state in the US recognizes the right-to-life of a late-term unborn child without discrimination, yet conservative pro-life legislators in conservative, pro-life states cannot persuade other politicians to support abortion prohibitions without exceptions, this is a problem..... We need to find new, more persuasive legislators, and better pro-life leaders worthy of following and supporting.

The answer to the "abortion dilemma" is not to continue compromising -- it's to make it clear we will not elect representatives who do not take a firm stand against abortion, no matter what the circumstances.

When politicians say, "we won't get support without compromise", who do you think they are compromising with? Pro-choice legislators?

Generally speaking, pro-choice legislators will vote against virtually any pro-life law. They don't care what the parameters of the proposed legislation are.

Our allegedly pro-life legislators and leaders aren't compromising with them. When politicians and activists talk about compromise, they are talking about compromise within the pro-life contingent. It's pro-life legislators they are having to make exceptions for, Right to Life PAC-endorsed pro-life representatives who are debating the merits of these laws and their proposed exceptions.

And they're arguing the content of pro-life laws based on your potential vote. They don't want to lose you -- their pro-life constituents --  as voters.

It's time to stop this nonsense once and for all.

The state has a compelling interest in protecting all of its citizens. Science has proven the humanity of the fetus at all stages of development, regardless of the condition of conception or future outlook in terms of disability. Unborn children are citizens, and deserving of the same protections as everyone else. There is no reason for pro-life legislators to hold out on fetal anomaly, rape or incest exceptions, especially when the pro-life grass roots voters have been in the dark that these discriminatory exceptions are even within these proposed laws!

The ball is in our court -- your court.

Don't blame officials you've elected for not being capable of compromise. They're only doing what we are asking them to do.

Don't let pro-life "hot shots" make claims which are proven false with a minimal amount of research and lack of care -- having made the determination in their own sense of wisdom that certain children are expendable.

Don't let people convince you to compromise on your principles by creating an atmosphere of fear.  Because this is what they do: they make you afraid of the collapse of any abortion legislation.

We have the power to end exceptions in laws limiting abortions, and save lives. Other states have done it. Liberal, pro-choice-controlled states have done it.

All it would take is a unified voice of pro-life people clarifying that pro-life means pro-life. Not pro-life except for those who were conceived in rape and/or incest or those with abnormalities.

How many of you privately don't support, and are uncomfortable with, legislation which doesn't protect all preborn human life?

How many of you go along with compromise due to expediency?

How many of you don't say anything because every time you do, someone calls you heartless or tells you you're being divisive?

How many of you are tired of being called "petulant" because you're disappointed by another year of abortion legislation which doesn't save the most vulnerable?

I know I am.





(footnote: Federal law requires that all states have exceptions for life of the mother in their abortion legislation)
 BIO:  Sarah St. Onge is a wife, mother of 4, step-mother of 2, and pro-life blogger for Save The 1.  She blogs on grief, loss, and pro-life issues pertaining to continuing a pregnancy after a lethal anomaly has been diagnosed, at www.shebringsjoy.com.

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Tuesday, August 23, 2016

My Daughter Made It Easier to Get Past the Rape, by Michelle Olson

It was one of the darkest periods of my life – I was going through turmoil with my parents, a bad split with the father of my two sons, betrayed by friends, and ended up on the streets, on a waiting list for a homeless shelter.  I had nothing and nobody left.  I prayed for death to come.  Within a week, instead of dying, I was raped.

I found out I had gotten pregnant from the rape.  Having been raped
many times in my life, I know that instinct which says to put it out of your mind -- don't think about it.  Having a growing belly which continually reminded me of the rape was indeed painful in the beginning, but forced me to deal with the pain, and to move past it.  I was so emotional, but I knew my baby needed me to get through it all.  Also, I was finally able to get a room in the homeless shelter.

I tried to call an agency about putting the baby up for adoption, but I couldn't make the call.  Every time I tried, I would cry so hard.  I finally decided I wanted to keep my baby.  

She made it easier to get past the rape. I got a beautiful baby girl from what happened to me.  She is sweet, loving, and beautiful.  What I went through was nothing compared to the joy my little girl has brought to my life.  God had given me a reason to keep going.  My little girl is my miracle baby.

My sweet angel helped me in more ways than I can count.  She makes the world a brighter place.  My daughter may seem like an inconvenience to someone who has never met her, being conceived by rape and having disabilities.  Anyone who knows her also knows love and kindness that is unconditional.  The neighbors smile when they see her and wait for the hugs.

We now live in Texas where Alice has gotten speech, occupational,
and physical therapy.  She still has no diagnosis other than ADHD, but she has come a long way.  She is the sweetest little girl who loves to hug everyone she meets.  I never had to teach her to share -- it comes naturally to her.  She is so generous by nature.  I love my daughter so much, and I have seen lives changed by her life.

Through all of this experience, I adopted my closest friend as my mom.  And it just so happens that her only child was also conceived by rape.  She has been a source of comfort through everything, and she is proud to call Alice her granddaughter.

I actually have two very close friends with children conceived by rape, but they don't really talk about it.  One was 16 and kicked out of her parents house for getting pregnant.  She never told her parents until her son was about 12 that she was raped by her boyfriend.  She had been raped before and the rapist father pushed her into an abortion at the age of 14.  She still feels bad about it to this day, but was determined not to let it happen again when she got pregnant with her son.  

The other was in college and didn't know she was pregnant until she was pretty far along.  She says had she known earlier in the pregnancy, then she’s certain that at that time, she would have had an abortion.  She was going to put him up for adoption, but changed her mind. She was never able to carry another baby to term and he is her only child.  After he grew up, she decided to volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center, and her son is the reason she is now pro-life!

So if you have a story like ours, know that you are not alone, and I hope this encourages you.


BIO:  Michelle Olson is a mother of three from Texas and a pro-life blogger for Save The 1.
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