My Mother Chose Life

What If Your Mom Chose Abortion?

This story starts in early 1949. A 33-year-old woman, named Pat, discovered she was pregnant with her second child. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Her husband, Paul had been told upon discharge from the Navy that he would be sterile from having served as a Radar Man on a Destroyer in WWII. But God had other plans. He allowed the seed to be fertilized and a new life was conceived.

Pat was told by her doctors that she might die trying to have this child. She had severe arthritis and severe anemia. She was told that she needed to abort the child. In 1949, abortion was only recommended when there was a dire risk to the mother.

As much as Paul wanted this child, he was afraid he would lose the love of his life and he also encouraged the abortion. Even Pat’s sister, a staunch Catholic, tried to convince Pat to have the abortion.

But there was absolutely no question in Pat’s mind that this child was a gift from God and would be born. Being very strong in her Catholic beliefs, abortion was out of the question. Pat endured the nine months of pregnancy with significant pain, weakness, and difficulty eating due to frequent vomiting. But she made it through 38 weeks. At that time, the baby was taken by C-Section. A healthy baby girl was born on December 3, 1949.

You have probably already realized that this story is about me. The baby was named Carol. I asked my Mom one day when I was in my 30’s why they chose the name, Carol. Her response was “You were a song in our hearts, born just before Christmas.” Thanks Mom, for not aborting me and letting your “song” be born. You chose life. God Bless You, Mom.

Have you ever stopped to think about the question “What if your Mom chose abortion?” I invite you to meditate on this question then ask yourself: Is abortion, taking a life, right in the eyes of God? Or do we need to protect life in our families, at abortion clinics, through prayer, or just listening to someone struggling with the decision to proceed with an abortion?

Where would you be if your Mom chose abortion? Since God gives life at the moment of conception, does anyone have the right to take it away? Life is precious and needs to be protected from the moment of conception. We are called to speak up for the unborn?

I sincerely hope and pray that if anyone finds themselves having to make the decision about whether to abort a “surprise” life within you, that you too will choose life for your child.