Throwback Thursday: A Letter To The Editor

 

"As you know not what is the way of the wind, or how the spirit
comes to the bones in the womb of a pregnant woman, even so
you know not the works of God, Who does all."
(Ecclesiastes 11:5)

Image courtesy/Human Life International

This is a letter I wrote to the Gloucester County Times' Reader's View
that was published on Thursday February 14, 2008.

In response to Jennifer Armiger's February 8th letter, "Bad To Profile Pro-Lifer
Uncritically" I think it is about time that a newspaper honored a "pro-life" hero
 (referring to the news story about an award given to Denise Cocciolone of Woodbury).

Denise Cocciolone has dedicated her life to not only saving babies,
 but their mothers' lives as well.

Unfortunately, the battle over human rights in our nation will continue.  Abortion is wrong.
People will argue that an unplanned pregnancy as a result of rape or incest should be
terminated, as well as a pregnancy that endangers the life of the mother.  Why should
a woman who has been sexually assaulted be violated again by an abortionist?
Why not offer her medical and emotional counseling by an organization
like Birthright which Denise Cocciolone helped establish in New Jersey?

As far as pregnancy that endangers the life of the mother, I often believe that this 
is used as an excuse to terminate the life of a less than perfect child.  Nine years ago,
I found myself unexpectedly pregnant with my second child.  A few months into
the pregnancy, I took a test that seemed to indicate that the child I was carrying
had Down Syndrome.   My whole world stopped.

Further tests revealed that my baby was developing normally, but I still worried.
I also leaned heavily on my faith in God.  In October, 1998 I gave birth to a
beautiful, healthy baby boy.  Sadly, I often wonder how many women would
have aborted their child if they had received the same devastating news. 

I am not trying to judge anyone. 

I just know in my heart that abortion can never be the right choice.

 2024 Postscript

I can still remember that morning twenty six year ago when
my doctor's office called me with the results of that test. 
 I was four months pregnant at the time.  

 The possibility that the child I was carrying might have
  Down Syndrome filled me with fear as I called my
mother with the distressing news.  She was shocked
too, but then, she told me to calm down and to trust
in the Lord.  My most fervent prayer in the days to
follow was that if this was His will, God would
provide me with the strength and the wisdom
to be the best mother I could be to my child.

I later remembered my sister Shelly telling me about this particular 
blood test I had taken-which is often given to pregnant women
over the age of thirty- (I was thirty-four at the time) and how it
had to be administered during the exact 16th week of the pregnancy.

Taken after this time, this particular test often resulted in a false-
positive reading for either Down Syndrome, or a neural tube
defect commonly known as Spina Bifida.

She was right.  As I wrote in my letter, testing which I had later-
and especially through the use of an ultrasound machine- revealed 
 that my baby was developing normally in my womb.

Ultrasound technology has become so advanced in recent years.
This past September, I underwent a biopsy on my thyroid. Lying
there in the procedure room I watched with amazement as the
doctor extracted fluid from an oversized nodule on the left side
 of my thyroid via an ultrasound screen. 

 I thank God that the results of this test were benign.

 I think that all the crisis pregnancy centers
across this nation could benefit from using these
marvels of modern technology.  Women would clearly
see their babies developing in the womb, and especially
their little hearts beating on the screen.

I pray that newly-elected President Donald Trump will not
only cancel any and all federal funding to the abortion mills
of Planned Parenthood, but, provide ample aid to pregnancy 
 crisis centers, where women are treated with respect and
kindness, and can receive compassionate and non-
judgmental counseling, as well as excellent prenatal
care for both themselves and their babies, and this
definitely includes access to ultrasound!