As the doctor pressured her to get an abortion, Robin could feel her 23-week-old unborn son kicking within her womb.
The little boy, named Bryan, had Down syndrome, and the doctor offered the Greenville, South Carolina 40 Days for Life co-leader Robin a litany of reasons why giving Bryan life would destroy her own life:
- "This will ruin your marriage."
- "Your other two sons will resent you, your husband, and their brother."
- "You will be stuck under a burden that cannot be taken away."
Doctors even attempted to send her to an infamous third-trimester abortionist halfway across the country...but still she refused.
"Did I question my ability to do this? Sure I did," Robin said. "But I knew this baby was sent to us for a reason."
15 years later, none of the doctors' dire predictions came to pass.
Robin's marriage is strong. Her oldest son graduated college at 21 years old, crediting his little brother for inspiring him to persevere through his own struggles. And her middle son is a U.S. Marine protecting our freedom.
"To have terminated him would have changed my family," Robin said.
While Robin chose life, many who receive a challenging prenatal diagnosis don't. Iceland once claimed to be on the brink of eradicating Down syndrome--by eradicating people with Down syndrome.
With so much pressure on expectant mothers to abort babies with disabilities, it seems the right to choose abortion has become an obligation to choose abortion.
Ubaté, Colombia
During the spring 40 Days for Life campaign in Ubaté, a stunned mother asked vigil participants about Down syndrome as doctors had just told her that she needed to get an abortion.
40 Days for Life volunteers prayed with the mom. She chose life, and her baby was just born!
"We are happily giving her all the support and prayers she needs for motherhood," said Colombian campaign coordinator Pamela Delgado.
College Station, Texas
A couple approached a College Station 40 Days for Life rally to see what was going on.
"The woman was in her 40s when she got pregnant with their last three children, and with each pregnancy, the doctors told her she'd probably have a child with Down syndrome," reported Patricia, the local leader. "With all three, she was pressured to abort by her doctors, and with all three, she refused."
The doctors were wrong. None of the babies have Down syndrome. Even if they did, it would not diminish their value a bit. But stories like this illustrate the type of pressure placed on expectant mothers to abort babies when there's even a suspicion of disability.
These all wait for you, that you may give them their food in due season, what you give them they gather in; you open your hand, they are filled with good. You hide your face, they are troubled; you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. You send forth your Spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth.
— Psalm 104:27-30
Beloved Father, remind us today that there is no truth but you. Do not let us fall prey to the evil one’s lie that we may choose death. Remind us right now that you, who created all life, are in control of all life, and let us choose life always. Keep lighting the pathway home, for us and for all who participate in this 40 Days for Life campaign.
