Abortion Survivors Share the Value of Pre-Born Lives

The issue of abortion has divided America for decades. Over that time, however, very few of us have heard from the children who have survived an abortion attempt.

On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Abortion Survivors Share the Value of Pre-Born Lives,” we’re talking with two guests who experienced abortion firsthand and lived to tell their stories. Their voices deserve to be heard.

Melissa Ohden is the survivor of a failed saline infusion abortion in 1977. After the procedure, a nurse who was tending to her mother provided Melissa with medical care when she noticed Melissa was alive.

Priscilla Hurley’s mother had a D&C abortion, but the abortionist failed to recognize that she was carrying twins. While he successfully ended the life of one baby, Priscilla was later born a healthy baby girl.

In 1981, an article from The Philadelphia Inquirer referred to an aborted fetus surviving outside of the womb as a “dreaded complication.” Leading abortion expert, Dr. Thomas Kerenyi, said, “When a crying baby emerges and not a lifeless fetus, doctors have a problem with no easy answer.”

Melissa and Priscilla share a unique perspective on this issue because of the circumstances surrounding their births. They have worked with over 500 fellow survivors and defend the view that their stories reflect much more than a “dreaded complication.”

My conversation with Melissa and Priscilla isn’t graphic, but it’s probably not suitable for younger children, so please use your discretion and occupy your kids elsewhere, or listen later on your local radio station, online, on Apple Podcasts, via Google Podcasts, or on our free phone app.

This program touches on a number of issues that may feel tender for you. If so, Focus on the Family has a team of caring Christian counselors, and it would be their privilege to offer you a free consultation. Call us, leave your name and number, and they’ll get back with you just as soon as possible. The number during business hours is 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).

Melissa’s book Abortion Survivors Break Their Silence is available for a gift of any amount. Check here for details.

One of the best things you can do to support life is to participate in our Option Ultrasound program. Pregnancy resource centers minister to everyone involved – the woman, the man, the baby, the whole family.

Focus provides grants to these centers for sonogram training and technology. To date, over 800 ultrasound machines have been placed around the country, and 500,000 babies have been saved. We’re working hard to raise that number to one million babies saved sometime in the near future. What’s amazing is that it only takes $60 to save a baby’s life by providing ultrasound machines and additional resources. Check here for details.

You might also be interested in Wait No More, our foster and adoption effort here at Focus. Over 3,500 families have started that process, usually adopting more than one child.

Thank you for touching others with the love of Christ.