When I was 14 months along a sonogram showed that our baby had fluid built up around her head and abdomen. My OB was somber, and said that irrespective of the cause of the problem, things did not look good for our little one.
It was recommended that we go for a second ultrasound and an opinion from a high risk specialist. We did so. We also had an amniocentesis done. As we waited a week for the results, I prayed as I researched all of the possible scenarios on the internet.
I prayed that our baby would live. I prayed that whatever the abnormality, that our baby would survive birth and be ours to hold and love for even a short time. I found myself praying that our baby would have Downs Syndrome, for at least that condition was not fatal.
However, our baby was found to have Trisomy 18, a condition considered to be fatal, either in utero, at birth, or shortly after birth. Our baby girl did in fact die at 17.5 weeks along. I had felt her move inside me, and then felt the lack of movement. I knew when her spirit left me.
When I held her in my hand at the hospital after having her induced, I appreciated God’s mercy in rescuing her from earthly suffering, and I thanked God for sparing our family (we have six young children) from the trauma of witnessing that suffering despite our willingness to do so had that been God’s will. I also thanked God for the opportunity my husband and I had to exhibit our faith in action to our children. They now know what it means to love life from the moment of conception, and they know that they were so loved.
And so now as I watch the news and view our current society, I am outraged and overcome.
I want my say, and so I pray….
Dear God please let all of your faithful be spurred to action as we witness a society brazenly baring its ugliest sides without hint of remorse.
Homosexual marriage.
Free contraception.
Wrongful life suit for a Downs Syndrome baby that would have been aborted had the parents only known.
Is there any dignity left in our people? Is there any humanity? Faith?
I pray that the dialogue in our nation be elevated. I pray that instead of discussing marriage as a civil union we discuss it as a most Holy Sacrament; a vocation through which men and women are called to attempt to create life and then to welcome that life, if so blessed.
I pray that spouses view one another as partners on the journey to heaven – that they strive to grow in holiness together; that they forever seek to minister to one another spiritually, emotionally, and physically without selfishness.
I pray that men and women at all ages and stages of life find the courage to defy the societal call to immorality and discover the beauty and dignity to be found in living lives of intentional and willful chastity, whether single, married, or religious.
I pray that contraception be replaced with virginity, natural family planning, or abstaining, and that the heavenly gift of human sexuality finds its rightful place within loving marriages.
I pray that every life be recognized as a wondrous miracle of God, worthy of protection and respect.
I pray that parents welcome the children that God blesses them with, understanding that from the very moment of conception their child’s soul was hand-picked by God and entrusted to them for some heavenly purpose that they need to grow to comprehend.
I pray that every woman who considers abortion chooses adoption instead.
I am so thankful that I will always have my say, for I will always PRAY!!!!
Prayer is my greatest weapon. And my husband and I are teaching our children to pray.
Yes, secular society, I am one of your greatest threats as I sit quietly in my happy home holding the multi-colored beads of my Pro-Life Rosary.
My name is Sarah Scott. I love my husband. I love my children. I love my Catholic faith. I love my God, and I am grateful for my life.
I am grateful for the beautiful faith of my mother and father. My mother had two full-term still-born babies back to back. She and my father were so sad. Sad beyond words. But their faith was never shaken. They went on to have five living children in all…I am the youngest, born when my mother was 40. Thank you, Mom and Dad. You were my first and best example of faith in action.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Marie Cherry Used to Contracept....and She Has a Say!
I am proud to say that I have a say! My story isn’t as amazing as the others shared here. And no great hurdles have been thrown in my path, but I think that my story…especially the first part…is shared by so many women of my generation.
I was raised in a Catholic home from the time I was born. My family went to Mass every Sunday and every Holy Day. We always looked for (and found!) a church when we were out of town. Those things made me “really Catholic” among my friends. My parents kept close tabs on me and my brother.
As I reached my teens, I found myself in a Catholic girls high school. I suppose it was a more gentle high school experience than public school would have offered and the sisters and other teachers expected more of us, both academically and personally, than might have been expected at a public school. But the truly authentic Catholic flavor was missing from my life…although I had no idea at the time.
I went on to get a bachelors degree—all the while attending Sunday Mass. I met a great guy who joined the church and we got married. We had welcomed three daughters into our family by the time I was 32. The whole time I considered myself pretty Catholic—mostly because I was a regular at Mass. I’d even been to some daily Masses. Sure, we contracepted, but considering that contraception was taught in my Catholic high school, I didn’t consider it a problem.
I suppose that I began to wake up to the fact that contraception didn’t fit in with God’s plan just before our second daughter turned one through some reading I was doing and while we didn’t stop contracepting completely, we had just enough of a break to conceive our third child. When newly pregnant, I began spotting. An ultrasound didn’t show a baby growing and my blood levels were not rising properly. I was told that the pregnancy was a blighted ovum. My doctor said I could wait and miscarry naturally or have a D&C. I chose to wait and miscarry naturally. Although the baby wasn’t planned, and I was just six weeks pregnant, we mourned the loss of that child. Days became weeks, and my body wasn’t giving up the pregnancy. I returned to the doctor for a follow up appointment and after looking at my blood test results, my doctor quickly scheduled an ultrasound. The baby was there—just the way an eight week old baby was supposed to be. I went on to carry her to term without further incident. That experience really solidified my pro-life beliefs and I am so very thankful that we didn’t choose the D&C.
Just before her birth I was told about a local Catholic homeschool group. At that point I just liked the idea of continuing to help my daughter learn and thought it would be the best environment for her. I figured the Catholic support group was just like any other support group except the women attended Catholic churches. I couldn’t make a meeting for about 8 more months. That meeting was the turning point in our lives. It was the first exposure to people who had that authentic Catholic flavor in their lives. It was the first time that I had met a group of people who actually knew, embraced and followed Church teaching without exception. It was eye opening to say the least. I owe my real conversion to a priest in an online forum. Although I don’t know his name, I am forever grateful to him. I posed a question and in it said something about contracepting…pretty casually as I recall. He gently let me know that it wasn’t all right. That what the Church taught was what the Church taught. There weren’t any loopholes and that while individual priests or teachers might espouse something different, that wasn’t authentic. I was blown away. I pondered that for a while and within a week or so plucked up the courage to speak to my husband. We were nearing our 10th wedding anniversary and I asked him to give me a non-contracepting marriage as an anniversary gift. He (God Bless Him!) agreed, although he didn’t get it at all. He did a lot of reading and soul searching and in time he wholeheartedly accepted the Church’s teaching.
I may have come late to the party, but I am completely on board! In addition to strengthening our marriage, we have found the true treasures of our faith. I truly believe that in accepting God’s plan for our lives, we have been given innumerable graces. That 10th anniversary is nearly 10 years in the past and this fall we will celebrate our 20th anniversary. We have welcomed two boys and another daughter during those years for a grand total of six children.
I have lived on both sides of the contracepting fence…and I know which side is greener and I’m staying on it! Cecile Richards doesn’t begin to speak for me…I have my own say!
I was raised in a Catholic home from the time I was born. My family went to Mass every Sunday and every Holy Day. We always looked for (and found!) a church when we were out of town. Those things made me “really Catholic” among my friends. My parents kept close tabs on me and my brother.
As I reached my teens, I found myself in a Catholic girls high school. I suppose it was a more gentle high school experience than public school would have offered and the sisters and other teachers expected more of us, both academically and personally, than might have been expected at a public school. But the truly authentic Catholic flavor was missing from my life…although I had no idea at the time.
I went on to get a bachelors degree—all the while attending Sunday Mass. I met a great guy who joined the church and we got married. We had welcomed three daughters into our family by the time I was 32. The whole time I considered myself pretty Catholic—mostly because I was a regular at Mass. I’d even been to some daily Masses. Sure, we contracepted, but considering that contraception was taught in my Catholic high school, I didn’t consider it a problem.
I suppose that I began to wake up to the fact that contraception didn’t fit in with God’s plan just before our second daughter turned one through some reading I was doing and while we didn’t stop contracepting completely, we had just enough of a break to conceive our third child. When newly pregnant, I began spotting. An ultrasound didn’t show a baby growing and my blood levels were not rising properly. I was told that the pregnancy was a blighted ovum. My doctor said I could wait and miscarry naturally or have a D&C. I chose to wait and miscarry naturally. Although the baby wasn’t planned, and I was just six weeks pregnant, we mourned the loss of that child. Days became weeks, and my body wasn’t giving up the pregnancy. I returned to the doctor for a follow up appointment and after looking at my blood test results, my doctor quickly scheduled an ultrasound. The baby was there—just the way an eight week old baby was supposed to be. I went on to carry her to term without further incident. That experience really solidified my pro-life beliefs and I am so very thankful that we didn’t choose the D&C.
Just before her birth I was told about a local Catholic homeschool group. At that point I just liked the idea of continuing to help my daughter learn and thought it would be the best environment for her. I figured the Catholic support group was just like any other support group except the women attended Catholic churches. I couldn’t make a meeting for about 8 more months. That meeting was the turning point in our lives. It was the first exposure to people who had that authentic Catholic flavor in their lives. It was the first time that I had met a group of people who actually knew, embraced and followed Church teaching without exception. It was eye opening to say the least. I owe my real conversion to a priest in an online forum. Although I don’t know his name, I am forever grateful to him. I posed a question and in it said something about contracepting…pretty casually as I recall. He gently let me know that it wasn’t all right. That what the Church taught was what the Church taught. There weren’t any loopholes and that while individual priests or teachers might espouse something different, that wasn’t authentic. I was blown away. I pondered that for a while and within a week or so plucked up the courage to speak to my husband. We were nearing our 10th wedding anniversary and I asked him to give me a non-contracepting marriage as an anniversary gift. He (God Bless Him!) agreed, although he didn’t get it at all. He did a lot of reading and soul searching and in time he wholeheartedly accepted the Church’s teaching.
I may have come late to the party, but I am completely on board! In addition to strengthening our marriage, we have found the true treasures of our faith. I truly believe that in accepting God’s plan for our lives, we have been given innumerable graces. That 10th anniversary is nearly 10 years in the past and this fall we will celebrate our 20th anniversary. We have welcomed two boys and another daughter during those years for a grand total of six children.
I have lived on both sides of the contracepting fence…and I know which side is greener and I’m staying on it! Cecile Richards doesn’t begin to speak for me…I have my own say!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Amber Has End Stage Kidney Failure...And She Has a Say!
I have a say because I am a woman. I have a say because I have End Stage Renal Disease. My children have a say because I chose them above what was thought to be the "best choice".
I have had Chronic Kidney Disease for the last 12 years. During these twelve years my kidney function has gone from 95% to 14%. Yes, you read that right, I am currently at End Stage Renal Disease.
I had 2 children while my kidneys were still "good". In 2002 I spent a month on bedrest at home and 6 weeks in the hospital, trying to get my oldest here safely. Again, in 2004, we spent 3 months on modified bedrest (I had a toddler) and my 2nd was born safely. Getting them here was not easy, I had a PIC line to receive treatments, labs every few weeks, Bio-Physical Profiles once a week towards the end. Many things that some would consider it a "hard pregnancy", yet I knew in my heart that we would pull through. People have gone through worse. I was not Catholic at the time and I was told that having more children would not be in our best interest.
I converted to Catholicism in 2005. In May 2005 I had a large Pulmonary Embolism (bloodclot in my lung). The ER doctor had tears in his eyes when he told me. He wasn't even going to look for that. But my nephrologist (kidney doctor) insisted he do more than an X-ray. My family doctor pretty much told me I would have died if I waited any longer. My guardian angel sure was looking out for me.. But I was in the hospital for a week.
In 2006, we were preparing for dialysis. I went through the class and everything. It took me 3 years to go from 25 percent to 20 (in 2009). I've been mentally prepared for kidney failure for a long time. Many people don't have that blessing. Some people have instant failure, so they feel bitter and don't understand. Some people didn't know they had a problem, and are angry. Some people refuse to do certain things to help themselves get better. I've not had the problem. I'm not bitter at all. I've been ready for a long time. Willing for the next step towards transplant. Praying for peace, knowing it's inevitable. Praying for a miracle, even for the miracle of medicine. My husband and I were happy with the 2 children we were blessed with, both would be considered miracles. We decided that we would adopt or try for other children after a transplant.
In 2009 we got a real surprise. I was pregnant. We found out fairly early. I was terrified. I was on coumadin because of my clot, I had 20% kidney function. I didn't know what would happen to my child. I went to my high risk doctor, prepared to hear him yell at me. After all he said it wouldn't be wise, he did help me get through the other two, but warned me not to try again. When we got there, he told us we were 4 weeks pregnant. Really early. He told me that he thought an abortion may be the best thing. "No baby, in your condition, will make it to a point of viability." I told him, "No, Doc. If you can't/won't help me, I will find someone else". He then told me, "Okay, let's get you as far as we can. I am saying 20 weeks will be as far as we get."
Wow, 20 weeks. Well the baby would have a chance, no matter how small. We took our chance. I was terrified. I loved my baby and the thought of not being able to carry him or her was sickening. They told me I may have to start dialysis as soon as the baby was born. We went to the doctor, did everything he told us to do. Every week the baby looked great, my blood pressure stayed stable, my labs fluctuated between 19%-21%. We were trucking along. When I got to 25 weeks, the doctors were in shock. I just kept telling them, let's try another week. Everything looks good. Let's keep going.
My baby ended up being born at 38 weeks gestation! The doctors were amazed. They never would have guessed that. I got very tired of hearing "You aren't going to make it to X week" then we passed that week! Every day I prayed "just one more day God, let him grow for one more day".
Today he is a wonderful little toddler who adds joy to all our lives! All 3 of my children are healthy. Unheard of, unthinkable.
I have a say, because I trust myself and God enough to tell the doctors "Lets try anyway".
I have had Chronic Kidney Disease for the last 12 years. During these twelve years my kidney function has gone from 95% to 14%. Yes, you read that right, I am currently at End Stage Renal Disease.
I had 2 children while my kidneys were still "good". In 2002 I spent a month on bedrest at home and 6 weeks in the hospital, trying to get my oldest here safely. Again, in 2004, we spent 3 months on modified bedrest (I had a toddler) and my 2nd was born safely. Getting them here was not easy, I had a PIC line to receive treatments, labs every few weeks, Bio-Physical Profiles once a week towards the end. Many things that some would consider it a "hard pregnancy", yet I knew in my heart that we would pull through. People have gone through worse. I was not Catholic at the time and I was told that having more children would not be in our best interest.
I converted to Catholicism in 2005. In May 2005 I had a large Pulmonary Embolism (bloodclot in my lung). The ER doctor had tears in his eyes when he told me. He wasn't even going to look for that. But my nephrologist (kidney doctor) insisted he do more than an X-ray. My family doctor pretty much told me I would have died if I waited any longer. My guardian angel sure was looking out for me.. But I was in the hospital for a week.
In 2006, we were preparing for dialysis. I went through the class and everything. It took me 3 years to go from 25 percent to 20 (in 2009). I've been mentally prepared for kidney failure for a long time. Many people don't have that blessing. Some people have instant failure, so they feel bitter and don't understand. Some people didn't know they had a problem, and are angry. Some people refuse to do certain things to help themselves get better. I've not had the problem. I'm not bitter at all. I've been ready for a long time. Willing for the next step towards transplant. Praying for peace, knowing it's inevitable. Praying for a miracle, even for the miracle of medicine. My husband and I were happy with the 2 children we were blessed with, both would be considered miracles. We decided that we would adopt or try for other children after a transplant.
In 2009 we got a real surprise. I was pregnant. We found out fairly early. I was terrified. I was on coumadin because of my clot, I had 20% kidney function. I didn't know what would happen to my child. I went to my high risk doctor, prepared to hear him yell at me. After all he said it wouldn't be wise, he did help me get through the other two, but warned me not to try again. When we got there, he told us we were 4 weeks pregnant. Really early. He told me that he thought an abortion may be the best thing. "No baby, in your condition, will make it to a point of viability." I told him, "No, Doc. If you can't/won't help me, I will find someone else". He then told me, "Okay, let's get you as far as we can. I am saying 20 weeks will be as far as we get."
Wow, 20 weeks. Well the baby would have a chance, no matter how small. We took our chance. I was terrified. I loved my baby and the thought of not being able to carry him or her was sickening. They told me I may have to start dialysis as soon as the baby was born. We went to the doctor, did everything he told us to do. Every week the baby looked great, my blood pressure stayed stable, my labs fluctuated between 19%-21%. We were trucking along. When I got to 25 weeks, the doctors were in shock. I just kept telling them, let's try another week. Everything looks good. Let's keep going.
My baby ended up being born at 38 weeks gestation! The doctors were amazed. They never would have guessed that. I got very tired of hearing "You aren't going to make it to X week" then we passed that week! Every day I prayed "just one more day God, let him grow for one more day".
Today he is a wonderful little toddler who adds joy to all our lives! All 3 of my children are healthy. Unheard of, unthinkable.
I have a say, because I trust myself and God enough to tell the doctors "Lets try anyway".
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Ambria Martin, FOCUS Missionary (next year) Has a Say
I'm so thankful that my parents 23 years ago decided to give me life. I'm the product of an unwed cohabiting couple that was unplanned.Yet to them I was seen as a gift and thus given a beautiful chance at life. At first my life was rough, I was born over a month early, weighing in at 4lbs and almost immediately placed in an incubator. There were moments when the doctors didn't know how I would end up. My parents fought for me though not just in the physical sense but in the spiritual sense. My mother prayed and prayed that I would be a healthy child. God granted her that prayer and I've grown up with an amazingly healthy life. I've been given wonderful gifts throughout this life but the biggest is the gift of two siblings, an older half brother and a younger sister. A few months ago I found out that I'm going to be a Catholic missionary on a college campus next year. I'm so glad that God has granted me the gift to allow me this type of job. I have been given the chance to have a say and i'm so blessed to have parents who cherished that. I don't know how many lives God will change by being able to use me as a tool on a college campus but I can only imagine-- his love is that infinite. While I have a say, my other half sibling didn't. One woman's choice changed my entire family and ultimately brought her grave pain. I want to say right now Cecile, that your idea of a "choice" has killed a member of my family and they didn't even get the chance to ask, "can I live?". No one else was given the chance to speak on that woman's choice yet we all live with the loss of a beautiful person. I have a say and I refuse to allow you mask this issue without showing what an abortion actually does to a family. One woman had a choice and her choice was selfish and manipulative. It continues to devastate my family. I speak on behalf of my half sibling and the rest of the unborn who weren't given the chance that I was and I'm not going anywhere
Friday, March 23, 2012
Julie Brase Pregnant and on Methotrexate Has a Say!
Although I am not Catholic, I have a say. In 1995 I was 27 and had a stroke. I was diagnosed with a rare auto immune disease call Takayasu Arteritis three days after my stroke. My left carotid and subclavian arteries were 100% occluded and remain in that state to this day.
Two years later my right carotid, subclavian and vertebral arteries were closing (80-90%) so I had a stint placed in each artery (total of three). My doctor decided to put me on methotrexate. Anyone who has ever been on this medication or in the medical field knows that you DO NOT get pregnant on methotrexate. It causes spina bifida and miscarriage (and is actually used to cause an abortion).
Yet here I found myself pregnant. Two of my doctors told me to abort my baby. The first reason was the methotrexate, the second was my disease and the fact I had a previous stroke (I have fully recovered). I immediately refused, my husband agreed. One of my doctors said that no one can tell a woman to end the life of their child and that he would be here if I needed him (this was my neurologist). My OB told me after it was over that he never wanted me as an OB patient again as he worried so much during my pregnancy. He was half joking but I wouldn't want me as a patient either with the same circumstances.
It was a scary time for my whole family. I already had two children, I didn't want to leave them motherless or my husband a widow. Yet I had an instant calm the day I found out I was pregnant, I somehow knew it would be ok. I had to give myself heparin (blood thinner) shots in my stomach twice a day, got gestational diabetes from the prednisone and couldn't have a c-section because of the danger of blood clots. I cried many nights worrying about my baby but never did I fear for my own life. I knew God had His hand in this and it was His plan.
I went into labor three weeks early. One of the many miracles in my life was that my anesthesiologist wrote a paper on my specific disease and anesthesia. My disease is very rare, there are only about 300 people world wide who have it. I couldn't push when it came time to push because doctors feared the pressure caused on my already weak arteries. So I couldn't push and I couldn't have a c-section, yet the birth went like clockwork. I won't go into the details on how they did it but out she came screaming 5 minutes before Super Bowl kickoff .
She was born perfectly healthy, all 10 fingers and toes. Today she is an absolutely beautiful 13 year old who is brilliant, artistic and loves to ride horses. She was destined to live and she has a purpose. There is a reason each and everyone of us were created...God doesn't make mistakes.
Here is a picture of my lovely daughter
I state again that I'm not Catholic but in this fight, we are all Catholics now!
Two years later my right carotid, subclavian and vertebral arteries were closing (80-90%) so I had a stint placed in each artery (total of three). My doctor decided to put me on methotrexate. Anyone who has ever been on this medication or in the medical field knows that you DO NOT get pregnant on methotrexate. It causes spina bifida and miscarriage (and is actually used to cause an abortion).
Yet here I found myself pregnant. Two of my doctors told me to abort my baby. The first reason was the methotrexate, the second was my disease and the fact I had a previous stroke (I have fully recovered). I immediately refused, my husband agreed. One of my doctors said that no one can tell a woman to end the life of their child and that he would be here if I needed him (this was my neurologist). My OB told me after it was over that he never wanted me as an OB patient again as he worried so much during my pregnancy. He was half joking but I wouldn't want me as a patient either with the same circumstances.
It was a scary time for my whole family. I already had two children, I didn't want to leave them motherless or my husband a widow. Yet I had an instant calm the day I found out I was pregnant, I somehow knew it would be ok. I had to give myself heparin (blood thinner) shots in my stomach twice a day, got gestational diabetes from the prednisone and couldn't have a c-section because of the danger of blood clots. I cried many nights worrying about my baby but never did I fear for my own life. I knew God had His hand in this and it was His plan.
I went into labor three weeks early. One of the many miracles in my life was that my anesthesiologist wrote a paper on my specific disease and anesthesia. My disease is very rare, there are only about 300 people world wide who have it. I couldn't push when it came time to push because doctors feared the pressure caused on my already weak arteries. So I couldn't push and I couldn't have a c-section, yet the birth went like clockwork. I won't go into the details on how they did it but out she came screaming 5 minutes before Super Bowl kickoff .
She was born perfectly healthy, all 10 fingers and toes. Today she is an absolutely beautiful 13 year old who is brilliant, artistic and loves to ride horses. She was destined to live and she has a purpose. There is a reason each and everyone of us were created...God doesn't make mistakes.
Here is a picture of my lovely daughter
I state again that I'm not Catholic but in this fight, we are all Catholics now!
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Pregnant With Breast Cancer, Erika Was Told to Abort
My daughter a say because I didn't take the popular breast cancer organizations' word about my breast cancer diagnosis. I was 28 years old and 20 weeks pregnant when I was diagnosed with BRCA1 breast cancer. The popular cancer organizations recommendation was to "terminate" my pregnancy so I could receive life-saving chemotherapy and surgery. As a Catholic I was appalled. As a mother who had miscarried four times previously, almost losing my life once, I could not imaging willingly killing my unborn child. However, I also was not content to sit idly by while my baby, and the tumor, grew.
I sought world-class help from MD Anderson Cancer Center. Once there, I learned that 1 in 3000 breast cancer diagnoses are made during pregnancy. MD Anderson had revolutionized breast cancer treatment while pregnant 20 years ago when it began giving a particular combination, strength, and schedule of chemotherapy to pregnant women. Not only were all the babies born side-effect free, the mothers that received treatment had better survival rates than their counterparts who aborted or were not pregnant at diagnosis.
I began FAC chemotherapy less than a month after my diagnosis. I was seven and a half months pregnant when I joined my eighteen month old son for his second annual Walk for Life in our hometown. On Thanksgiving day 2009, my beautiful daughter was born to a mother with as little hair as the newborn. There were no complications during the pregnancy or afterwards. Two or three short weeks after her delivery, I began another round of chemotherapy. When my daughter, Rachel, was only two months old I underwent a bilateral mastectomy. She is now 2 years old and the apple of everyone's eye.
She and I have given speeches to the local cancer organizations to enlighten women about the real options when faced with cancer during pregnancy. When she was a year old, I was given the local Right to Life groups "Life Award" in honor of not only talking the pro-life talk, but also walking the walk. I have made it my mission to educate as many people as possible about this frightening situation. It is my hope that my daughter will not have "termination" forced upon her if she inherits my genetic predilection for breast cancer. I have a say in her and my son's education about this horrible "choice". They have both "walked" for babies since they were babies. We will continue to have our say as we stand up for those who cannot.
I sought world-class help from MD Anderson Cancer Center. Once there, I learned that 1 in 3000 breast cancer diagnoses are made during pregnancy. MD Anderson had revolutionized breast cancer treatment while pregnant 20 years ago when it began giving a particular combination, strength, and schedule of chemotherapy to pregnant women. Not only were all the babies born side-effect free, the mothers that received treatment had better survival rates than their counterparts who aborted or were not pregnant at diagnosis.
I began FAC chemotherapy less than a month after my diagnosis. I was seven and a half months pregnant when I joined my eighteen month old son for his second annual Walk for Life in our hometown. On Thanksgiving day 2009, my beautiful daughter was born to a mother with as little hair as the newborn. There were no complications during the pregnancy or afterwards. Two or three short weeks after her delivery, I began another round of chemotherapy. When my daughter, Rachel, was only two months old I underwent a bilateral mastectomy. She is now 2 years old and the apple of everyone's eye.
She and I have given speeches to the local cancer organizations to enlighten women about the real options when faced with cancer during pregnancy. When she was a year old, I was given the local Right to Life groups "Life Award" in honor of not only talking the pro-life talk, but also walking the walk. I have made it my mission to educate as many people as possible about this frightening situation. It is my hope that my daughter will not have "termination" forced upon her if she inherits my genetic predilection for breast cancer. I have a say in her and my son's education about this horrible "choice". They have both "walked" for babies since they were babies. We will continue to have our say as we stand up for those who cannot.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Bishop Michael Sheridan Has a Say
There are so many reasons why I thank my parents for choosing life for me – not least of which was the opportunity to receive the gifts of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist, which give life in Christ. I remember that, even as a child, I treasured those occasions when I could speak about being a Catholic, when I could participate in the sacraments and the prayer life of the Church. It is, however, the gift of my vocation to the priesthood that is the crowning jewel in my life in Christ. Despite my unworthiness, I have been called to teach and to give witness boldly to the truth of God’s revelation; to offer the Sacrifice of Christ and bring His mercy and forgiveness to sinners. And for that vocation I will be eternally grateful. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of life. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for accepting that gift.
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