Catholic.org: Commentary: Twin Survives Abortion to teach Solidarity
I have two longstanding friends with whom I have stood in the pro-life trenches for over three decades, Paul and Rob Schenck. These brothers, besides being heroes to many who have been involved in the greatest human and civil rights struggle of our generation, are also “identical” twins. I can easily tell them apart, because I know them so well.
However, every time people see these men for the first time, they face the inevitable questions about how they can keep from being confused. They use it as an opportunity to speak truth, recounting that the extraordinary bond that exists between them is one of life’s greatest blessings. They speak of the nine months that they roomed together in the womb. They refer to themselves as having been “womb-mates.”
A report out of Birmingham England this past weekend concerning two other twin brothers, Gabriel and Ieuan Jones, brought my friends to mind. It is both heart touching and eye opening. Doctors told the mother of these two twins that they were worried about the health of one of their boys because of his small stature and what appeared to be an enlarged heart.
Mom, Gabe & Ieuan
They went further; they persuaded this mother to make the choice for what is euphemistically referred to in our abortion on demand culture as “selective termination” of the weaker brother. They told her that not only was it likely that the weaker child would die but that his continuing to occupy the womb with his brother could have jeopardized his health as well.
Mrs. Jones told reporters: "They told us that if he died, it could be life threatening for his brother. We had to decide whether to end his life and let his brother live, or risk them both. They said it would be impossible to keep him alive afterwards as he was so poorly nourished. It would be kinder to let him die in the womb with his brother by his side than to die alone after being born. That made my mind up for me. I wanted the best thing for him."
Unfortunately, many mothers are given these kinds of assessments and this kind of advice too easily. In an age when corrective surgery can be routinely done in the womb, such “selective terminations”, are not decreasing. In this procedure, a specific child (or children) is selected to be killed. Usually, this is done because of genetic difficulties. This says that children with potential handicaps are deemed less worthy. It is routinely advised that they be selectively aborted.
This is increasingly done after fertility treatments which result in multiple pre-born children. It is a new form of eugenics carried out in what was once the safest place on earth, the first home of the whole human race, the womb. Often, it is done through the injection of lethal chemicals into the child selected to be killed. Sometimes it is done through a surgical strike.
In their effort to take the life of the child now known as Gabriel, the Doctors first tried to sever his umbilical chord and cut off all his nourishing blood supply. The chord was too tough, so they then cut the placenta in half in another effort to “terminate” him but prevent the death of his brother. "I put my hands on my stomach thinking of Gabriel. It was devastating. I had said my goodbyes", said the boys mother. The little boy, whom the Doctors later named “Rocky” because he was such a fighter, continued to live for another five weeks until his mother delivered by a caesarean section.
Ol' Gabe is gonna be a rugby player.
Upon awakening the morning after the “reduction” surgery, the mother felt kicking. A scan showed a beating heart in the child whom they had tried to “terminate.” The mother recalled, "No one could quite believe it." Gabriel grew in size and the apparently enlarged heart began to decrease in size. Both brothers were born without incident and are now healthy, thriving twins.
The astonished mother now refers to the birth of her sons Gabriel and Ieuan as a miracle, telling reporters in England,” It was unbelievable. When I felt him kicking madly the morning after the operation, I suddenly knew that he was going to hang on. The doctors couldn't believe it when they could still hear his heartbeat the next morning." The father was equally elated, telling the press “It really is a miracle. Doctors carried out an operation to let Gabriel die - yet he hung on.”
The Doctors delivered the twins at 31 weeks. Ieuan’s birthweight was 3lb 8oz and the one who almost died, Gabriel, weighed in at 1lb 15oz. Now, at seven months, Ieuan weighs 15lb and Gabriel 12lb 6oz. Their mother recently stated to the newspaper, "The boys are so healthy, they have huge appetites too. Ieuan is the noisy one, while Gabriel is always laughing, it's like he's just so happy to be here. There is such a strong bond between them. They are always holding hands and, if one cries, the other reaches out to comfort him. Doctors tried to break their bond in the womb, but they just proved it couldn't be broken."
These two brothers in England, like my friends Paul and Rob Schenck, were “Womb-Mates.” They can teach us all a lesson, the meaning of solidarity. Solidarity means that we all belong to one another; and that we really are “our brothers keeper”.
Once again, a little child leads the way to truth.
RE THE USE OF MY PICTURE ON YOUR WEBSITE THIS IS CLEARLY MARKED AS A COPYRIGHT PICTURE . USE OF THIS PICTURE IN ANY FORM WITHOUT MY PRIOR CONSENT IS THEFT. YOU HAVE AND ARE COMMITTING THEFT UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW AND AGAINST YOUR OWN RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS .
ReplyDeleteIF YOU DO IMMEDIATE REMOVE THIS IMAGE THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES WILL BE INFORMED AND LEGAL ACTION TAKEN.
I ALSO SUGGEST YOU EXAMINE YOUR OWN MORAL CODE IF YOU SO READY TO COMMIT AN ACT OF THEFT..
The funny thing is I received thirty-seven anonymous e-mails from folks claiming to be the copyright holder of said photo. How can I tell if any of them are genuine if all are from anonymous sources?
ReplyDeleteSo, if the REAL copyright holder will simply have his attorneys e-mail me with some sort of proof and perhaps a phone number so I can call and speak to a live [sorry]attorney about this matter, I will gladly remove said photo.
Cheers,
Fyodor