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Today, March 18^th, is known to many as Trisomy 18 Day. Trisomy 18 is a genetic anomaly in which three copies of the 18^th chromosome are present, instead of the typical two. Nearly five years ago, I received a prenatal diagnosis that my firstborn daughter had this extremely rare chromosomal abnormality. Immediately, I was told a termination was the best for both myself, and my daughter. In fact, as my maternal fetal doctor relayed the genetic findings to me over the phone, he shared in the same breath that he discussed these results first with my OB, who informed him my termination was scheduled.

Doctors labeled Evelyn incompatible with life, yet the very fact that she was living and moving inside of me gave signs to one thing: life. Children with Trisomy 18 who are denied medical interventions, or who are not offered any at birth generally have a 90% fatality rate. When Evelyn was born on October 18, 2016, I was told she had less than a 10% chance to survive to her first birthday.

However, Evelyn did survive. And not only did she survive, she thrived. Over the years, Evelyn became a big sister, twice! Advocating for Evelyn while she was growing and thriving was easy for me to do. “Look! My child who you labeled incompatible with life is alive! She’s growing! And thriving!” Of course life was the answer then when a beautiful life was in front of me. However, little did I know, we were getting closer and closer to March 20, 2020.

Almost a year ago, our Evelyn Grace took her last breath on this side of heaven, and in an instant she closed her eyes on earth and opened them up in eternity. Evelyn fought courageously for 3 ½ years of life until Jesus called her to her eternal home. The agony and pain following has been something I would not wish on anyone. In the days following, I was asked if fighting for Evelyn, and choosing life was worth it. Was choosing life for Evelyn worth the excruciating pain I am currently enduring? Would it have been easier to say goodbye during my pregnancy?

The truth that I hold on to is that every single one of us is given a “life-limiting” diagnosis, it’s called humanity. None of us know the exact number of days we have here on earth, and no one is promised tomorrow. From the moment Evelyn was conceived and placed in my womb, life was taking place. This gift was one for me to steward, not one to dictate or control. I take comfort that God tells us he formed our bodies and saw every single day of our life that was to pass before a single came to be. Life is a gift, it is sacred, and something that only the author of life controls. I knew that on my best day caring for Evelyn, or my worst day, I could never add or subtract a day to her life, we don’t hold that power, only our Creator does.

Fighting for life is always worth it. A shortened life does not equivalate to a lesser life. In fact, it is often those who are taken “too soon” that leave the greatest impact on others. From the moment I carried Evelyn safely inside my womb, she was my gift of grace. I knew Evelyn was a gift I wouldn’t be able to keep forever, and a gift I had to hold with open hands. Advocating for Evelyn and sharing the sanctity of life with the hundreds of medical professionals and many Children’s Hospitals has been an honor. I have seen hearts changed and softened to the gift of life through, my beautifully broken daughter.

The only tragedy to this story would be to have never met Evelyn at all. Every single one of us will die one day, we cannot escape the humanity of our bodies. Evelyn’s life continues to teach me the beauty in life and that every life, no matter the length, is worth celebrating. I know my Evelyn is now more alive than ever before, in a body of perfect strength and righteousness. This is only the beginning of all of our stories, and one day we will be reunited again, for eternity. Over and over, I will always choose life.

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Hannah Sudlow is a wife and mom to her three children, Evelyn, Esme, and Harrison. Hannah is also the Founder and Executive Director of Evelyn’s Treehouse. Evelyn’s Treehouse is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that exists to come alongside to equip, educate, and encourage families who have received a medically complex, life-threatening medical diagnosis. Hannah carries on Evelyn’s legacy of LIFE through Evelyn’s Treehouse to educate hospitals, families, and surrounding communities on how to best support families facing a life-threatening diagnosis for their child. Hannah also serves on the Parent Advisory Council at Evelyn’s former Children’s Hospital, and second home.

As I sat in front of my patient in the exam room, I could see the relief on her face as we discussed the plan to try and save her unborn son.

Days earlier, like so many other women, she found herself in what seemed like an impossible situation. Faced with an unexpected pregnancy while still trying to finish school, this young woman walked into an abortion clinic and did something she never thought she’d do – she took the first pill of a medication abortion. My patient told me that the second she walked out of the clinic, she knew she’d made the wrong decision.

Desperate to know whether there was anything she could do to reverse what she’d started (despite having been told at the abortion clinic there wasn’t), she went home and Googled “Can I reverse my abortion?” She stumbled upon the Abortion Pill Rescue Network, which then connected her to me. After speaking with her on the phone, we started the process the same day, and we were able to save my young patient’s son.

I will never forget the smile on her face the day she delivered her son – full term and healthy. This was only possible because of the life-saving treatment she received as part of the abortion pill reversal protocol.

Far from being experimental, the medication used to counteract the effects of mifepristone (the drug used to cause an abortion up to 10 weeks) is one that has been safely used during pregnancy for decades by both general OB/GYNs and infertility specialists. The largest case series to date of this treatment, which included more than 700 women, shows that it works.

Using the abortion pill reversal protocol, 68% of women will be able to have successful ongoing pregnancies (compared to 23% if they do nothing). This translates to a significant number of children saved. In fact, there are more than 2,000 children alive, including my patient’s son, because of this treatment.

Abortion pill reversal therapy is, in fact, safe. Out of the women who have been treated using the official protocol, there is no increased risk of side effects or birth defects. Opponents often cite a study by Mitchell Creinin claiming to show an increased risk of hemorrhage in patients undergoing treatment.

A closer look at the actual data, however, tells a much different story.

Women not receiving progesterone suffered a much higher rate of hemorrhage (40%) than women who received progesterone (20%).

Additionally, women not receiving progesterone required emergency surgery to treat their hemorrhage, with one patient even needing a blood transfusion.

Not only did this study show that giving progesterone not increase the risk of adverse effects, it also showed that it works to save babies – 80% of the women who received progesterone had viable pregnancies at their follow-up appointments.

Women deserve to be able make informed decisions with access to all necessary information. Indiana’s House Bill 1577 would not force women to undergo this therapy; it merely ensures women know all of their options, especially if they change their minds – like my patient did.

I am thankful my patient had the ability to do a Google search to connect with me and that we were able to save her son’s life through the abortion pill reversal protocol. And I know my patient is thankful she is able to cuddle her precious son every day.

Every woman deserves to know that the abortion pill reversal protocol is an option, and we will continue to speak up for these women and their rights.

 

Dr. Christina Francis is the chair of the board of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG). Dr. Francis is a board-certified OBGYN who currently works in Fort Wayne, Indiana. You can learn more about her and AAPLOG’s work at aaplog.org.

The Aura of Victory: An Amazing March for Life

By: Marjorie Dannenfelser and Chuck Donovan

Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life and emcee of its massive annual gathering on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., describes it perfectly. Speaking to a crowd of a quarter million or more, a good half of them men and women under the age of 20, Jeanne hailed the attendees as the largest pro-life event in the world.

Let those words sink in.  Mass demonstrations occur around the planet every year, some of them very impressive.  People gather to highlight climate change, protest tax hikes on fuel or other commodities, or to demand a change in government.

But all of these events pale before the March every January in Washington, D.C to challenge the Roe v. Wade decision that eviscerated the right to life of unborn children from conception to birth, and now – starkly and sadly – beyond.  Year in and year out – for 47 years in a row – this peaceful and awe-inspiring event – come snow, sleet, or an occasional early spring – has endured, a march for people seeking nothing for themselves but rather a cradle of protection for the most vulnerable among us.

For decades, the March for Life was helmed by the redoubtable Nellie Gray, whose leadership and character blunted the barbs of the pundit class and endured their fading attempts to overlook the millions she shepherded onto the National Mall over the decades.  She came to be known by her first name – just “Nellie” – a rare tribute in our national politics, befitting the role she played in a thoroughly American drama.

Now it may have become “Jeanne’s” hour.

You see, in 2020, there was fresh realization, dawning on a jaded country, that the tide of resistance to the brutal command of the abortion cases no longer flows in a radical direction.  That rarest of things in politics and policy anywhere, a seemingly impregnable fiat written from above by the highest court in the land is being resisted and reversed by the people.

Our history has taught us how difficult a thing this is to accomplish, no matter how grave the injustice.  In 1896 the United States Supreme Court, discarding the ideals inscribed in our Constitution at the price of a Civil War, upheld racial segregation in Plessy v. Ferguson.  Enormity that it was, this ruling lasted 58 years until it was overturned by that same court in Brown v. Board of Education.

Today Roe v. Wade has lasted nearly five decades as “the law of the land.” While it took a decision of the Supreme Court to end a manifest injustice, contrary to the nation’s deepest values, segregation was ultimately ended by the people themselves, embodied by Dr. Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement, who marched, prayed, sang, and called on the nation to raise the banner of freedom – to recognize that every person is “an heir of liberty,” that “noble legacy” we receive by virtue of merely being human.

Thus, in 2020, we are sensing anew that the invention of an abortion right violates the deepest principle that every one of us is made in the image and likeness of God.  How often have marchers for Life heard the catcalls of opponents and some in the press, who argued that these annual displays on the Mall would not last?  That we would tire, suffer division, wither away, and collapse.

How wrong they are!  This is where Jeanne Mancini and her team have performed an American miracle.  They are too humble to say it, and knowing her, even to think it, but they have done something that almost never happens in the annals of our country.  They have witnessed without fail.  They have helped us reach the edge of the uplands we seek – a life-affirming, woman-affirming, family-affirming culture and polity.

This year’s March was once again warm and hopeful.  The spirit of the March converged with and conveyed our fondest dreams.  Yes, there is work to be done, laws to be passed, pregnancy centers to be opened, mantles of responsibility to be taken up, health care to be delivered to women and babies in need.  We are summoned once more to heed the “better angels of our nature.” Above it all, there is thanks to Almighty God, and praise for all who have labored, wept, and worked to see such a day.

Truly this was a March to remember – an ambience of love and service agleam with the aura of victory.

This article was originally published by the Susan B. Anthony List.

Marjorie Dannenfelser (@marjoriesba) is president of the national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List. Chuck Donovan (@cantdon) is president of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the research and education arm of Susan B. Anthony List.