When abortion was being discussed in Great Britain as a solution to the problem of children being born with birth defects after many pregnant women took the drug thalidomide, three disabled people wrote to the London Daily Telegraph. They were Elaine Duckett, who had useless hands and arms, Glynn Verdon, who could not use his legs, and Caryl Hodges, who had use of neither arms nor legs. They said:
“We were fortunate in having been allowed to live and we want to say with strong conviction how thankful we are that none took it upon themselves to destroy us as helpless cripples. We have found worthwhile and happy lives and we face our future with confidence. Despite our disability, life still has much to offer and we are more than anxious, if only metaphorically, to reach out toward the future. This, we hope, will give hope to parents of the thalidomide babies, and at the same time serve to condemn those who would contemplate the destruction of a limbless baby.”
Quoted in John Jefferson Davis “Abortion” (Chapter 6) Evangelical Ethics, Phillipsberg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1985. p 156-157. Also quoted in John Ankerberg “When Does Life Begin?”
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