An article about a new prenatal test for Down syndrome, which could lead to more Down syndrome babies being aborted, on a couple who conceived a down syndrome baby:
David and Annelies Reilly had dozens of questions swirling in their minds when doctors diagnosed their newborn daughter, Melissa, with Down syndrome.
Could she learn? Would she go to school? Could she ride the bus alone? Could she live a normal life? Could they?
Now their daughter is a college student:
Melissa, now 25, is successful by any measure. The college student is a speaker invited to inspire others around the country. She travels to represent the Down syndrome community internationally, and is a Special Olympian who brings home gold medals in skiing, cycling and swimming. Additionally, she interns for a Massachusetts state senator and tutors pre-school students with Down syndrome in math and reading.
Melissa’s mother says:
“She has taught us compassion for those who are not as strong or so-called perfect and beautiful. We see her as perfect and beautiful.”
Here is a letter a group of clergy wrote in support of abortion, along with the reality of what they support.
“Pastoral Letter About Your Abortion Decision” Planned Parenthood’s RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE [distributed by PP.]
“We believe, as religious leaders in our faith communities, that abortion is a morally permissible choice for a woman facing a problem pregnancy. … Abortion is chosen for medical, physical, emotional, economic and relational reasons. It is a choice made by women, often in consultation with partners, families and friends. We support you and your ability to choose what is best for you.
11 weeks
We believe, as religious leaders in our faith communities, that ultimately no one can make the choice for or against abortion except the woman herself. No one knows your life as you do. We trust that any decision you make will be made after serious thought and contemplation of the alternatives. You will make the best decision you can. …. If you have thoughtfully decided to have an abortion then you should be at peace with your decision…
15 weeks
[T]he decision to have an abortion will not threaten your relationship with God. …We believe that God is compassionate and does not expect any of us to lead perfect lives. … God is not angry with you and will not punish you for any choice you have or might make. In fact, we believe that God loves you and will be with you helping you find strength and understanding and comfort for living through days of doubt and distress.…
8 weeks
You may wonder from time to time if you made the right choice. You may be sorrowful, doubtful or depressed because of your choice. These are natural emotions. Experiencing this does not mean your decision was a bad one. It may mean that you are a sensitive person. …. If you think that it would be helpful for you to talk to a minister, Planned Parenthood keeps a list of clergy who would be supportive of you and the decision you have made. They will see you for no charge and not pressure you to become part of their congregations. We want you to have a peaceful road ahead.
God Bless you!”
20 weeks
COMMITTEE
Reverend Debbie Pitney, Reverend Steve Carlson, Reverend Ken Henry, Reverend Ben Dake, Reverend Melanie Oommen, Reverend Gregory Flint, Reverend Danna Drum Hastings, Reverend Dan Bryant, Reverend Zane Wilson, Reverend Jonathan Weldon, Reverend Jan Fairchild, Reverend Bruce Cameron, and Rabbi Yitzhak Husbands-Hankins.
Studies of families of children with Down syndrome show that these children benefit their families.
Dr. Brian Skotko, a clinical fellow in genetics at Children’s Hospital Boston, authored a study of 3,000 Down syndrome patients and family members published in the October edition of the American Journal of Medical Genetics. This study found:
Among 2,044 parents or guardians surveyed, 79 percent reported their outlook on life was more positive because of their child with Down syndrome.
In addition:
Skotko also found that among siblings ages 12 and older, 97 percent expressed feelings of pride about their brother or sister with Down syndrome and 88 percent were convinced they were better people because of their sibling with Down syndrome. A third study evaluating how adults with Down syndrome felt about themselves reports 99 percent responded they were happy with their lives, 97 percent liked who they are, and 96 percent liked how they looked
An article in The Irish Times tells how pro-choice reporters were made uncomfortable by testimony from an abortionist at the Kermit Gosnell trial. Gosnell was convicted of murder for killing babies born alive after abortions as well as a woman who died at his clinic.
The article is about pro-choice reporters’ reaction to the testimony of abortionist Dr Karen Feisullin:
“The jury and many in the courtroom shifted uncomfortably as they heard about “tools going up into the uterus and basically pulling parts out . . . an arm or a leg or some portion of that”.
And those were the easy, early abortions. For later procedures, Dr Feisullin explained the foetus was so well-formed that it couldn’t be ripped apart in the uterus. It was normally removed – through the birth canal – completely intact. But, as Feisullin explained, a baby born at 23 weeks has a 40-50 per cent chance of surviving. To avoid a live baby coming out during an abortion, the doctor demonstrated how, before the abortion, a poison – potassium chloride – was injected through the woman’s stomach directly into the baby’s heart. This would stop the heartbeat, allowing the foetus to be pulled out intact.
Dr Feisullin was asked what would happen if she missed the heart and the baby was born alive.
She explained that the live baby would be covered with a blanket and given “comfort care”.
You could see the genuine puzzlement of people in the court about what “comfort care” was until Dr Feisullin cleared up any confusion.
“You . . . really just keep it warm, you know. It will eventually pass,” she said.
Steve Volk, a Philadelphia-based journalist for an alternative newspaper who described himself as comfortably pro-choice before the trial, said that, as Dr Feisullin spoke, his fellow reporters all checked if they had heard correctly.”
“In my early twenties I was preparing to dedicate my life to Christ as a nun. However, the day before I was set to take my first vows, I realized that this was not my calling …I liked the life and work of the nuns … but not the spiritual aspect…
For me, my support of Planned Parenthood’s mission comes as part of my theology, not in spite of it. And I’m not alone.…. There is broad religious support for Planned Parenthood.”
“A Matter of Faith” The SourcePlanned Parenthood Fall 2013
Planned Parenthood commits almost a third of the nation’s abortions.
LifeNews tells the story of a woman who died after a poorly performed abortion:
Angela was twenty weeks pregnant when she walked into a dingy abortion clinic in Santa Ana, California, on August 7, 2004. Her abortion was completed in five minutes with little or no pain relief by an 84-year old abortionist, Phillip Rand, who rotated his time between several clinics throughout Southern California.
When he was done with Angela’s abortion, he got in his car and began the three-hour drive on congested California freeways to another abortion clinic in Chula Vista, near the Mexican border, where he had more patients waiting. But when Angela started bleeding heavily, the two medical aids, who were the only ones left in the clinic, didn’t know what to do. One called Rand and asked him to return to the clinic to help the hemorrhaging women, but Rand refused. He was already an hour or so away and didn’t want to go back and risk losing business in Chula Vista. He told them to call 911 if she got any worse.
Angela did get worse – much worse. By the time paramedics arrived, it was too late. They found her in a pool of her own blood. There was no oxygen or no crash cart at the clinic, but it is doubtful that the two minimally-trained aids would have know how to operate them if they had been available. Angela was transported to a local hospital where she later died.
One paramedic was so incensed by how he found Angela that he reported Rand to his supervisor who, in turn, notified the Medical Board. A signed declaration from the paramedic noted, “This was the worst post-partum patient situation at a medical clinic I have ever encountered during my time as a paramedic.” Twenty months later Rand surrendered his medical license.
For Angela, there was no continuity of care. Rand held no hospital privileges. This allowed him to operate well below the standard of care at the cost of one woman’s life.
The abortion clinic was part of a national group. It was a very cold and sterile environment. First, going into the lobby was a large seating area where it looked as if we were cattle going to slaughter. Women were crying and some were yelling at family or friends. It was a humiliating experience for me. I was alone with my best friend. Thank God for her. I don’t think I could have survived this experience without Kat.
I was seen by an ultrasound technician to determine how far along I was. I was 13 weeks. I asked to see the sonogram and was rudely told, no, I could not see it as it could cause me to change my mind. I was then taken back to talk first to a nurse and then to a doctor. I was given Misoprostol. It was supposed to induce labor, and I was able to go home after the first dose was given. I had to go through the post op surgery area when I was leaving and saw probably thirteen girls who had just had abortions. Some were still drugged up while others were crying. It was horrifying. I went home and had an at-home abortion. It was painful and scary.
Shannon Skinner had an abortion, but baby Amelia survived. Skinner says:
‘‘I can’t stop cuddling her — I never want to put her down…We call her our miracle baby because we just don’t know how she survived. She must have really wanted to be here.
Watching her sleep, I can’t bear to think of her not existing. For a long time I felt guilty, but now I just feel relief.’
One woman who shared her testimony with Silent No More, said:
I was given the RU-486 abortion pills the same day I went to the abortion clinic. They didn’t explain the process to me beyond when to take the pills. Side effects, possible complications, and what to expect during the abortion were not even mentioned. I had the abortion alone in my apartment, and it was by far the most painful experience of my life. It took at least two months for my body to recover.
