Posted on 05/14/2015 8:30:21 PM PDT by kathsua
I am a birthmother from rape. I know what many people think about abortion in cases of rape, and I’m sharing my story to give an alternate point of view to consider.
I can understand how this issue might tug on your heart, and how it may seem really hard to consider it realistic to expect a woman to carry a pregnancy to term in the case of rape — that it seems impossible to fathom. I used to think I was the only one in the world it happened to. I’m not alone though, and now I have many friends who’ve been through the same thing and we’ve all come out stronger.
I was that young girl. As a 14 yr old freshman, virgin, church-going, smart, young girl, I was raped on my high school campus by an upper class guy I barely knew. I met him in an upper level math class and he convinced me to join him in the music department one day, took me into a dark room, and raped me. I told no one for almost three months until I could no longer deny I was pregnant. I was my daddy’s little girl and I was devastated I’d lost my virginity which I’d hoped to save for marriage. I couldn’t bear the thought of disappointing my dad.
Long story short, I had two abortion appointments — one to cover up so I didn’t have to tell my Daddy, and the second of which my Dad insisted upon because he felt ashamed of his failure to protect me, and the family name. I felt ashamed and very sad for disappointing him and afraid to destroy my family.
Here’s where it gets good: on the way to the second appointment, I heard God tell me that her blood was innocent, and to take his hand. I asked my Dad to stop the car and said I didn’t know what I would do (keep the baby or adoption), but that I would accept the task of carrying the child until she was born — to choose LIFE for her. I felt overcome with a duty to protect this helpless life growing inside me. I had seen her heartbeat. I knew instantly in that car, that it wasn’t her fault, no matter who fathered her; even if he had just been a deadbeat dad. I knew then it was my duty and God would somehow give me the strength to bring her into the world.
I did just that, and with the help of counselors, I chose open adoption for my daughter. I picked her parents — a couple married many years who tried for seven years to have a family. She’s an honors student now, and graduating high school in three weeks — one entire year early at the age of 16. She has been accepted to four colleges, and wants to become an ER trauma surgeon one day.
At 17, I graduated high school also. I went on to spend two years at my dream school, Berklee College of Music in Boston, studying music business and voice. I eventually moved to California, and completed my Bachelor’s degree while working full time in the entertainment Industry. Currently, I have worked for a major entertainment company for nearly five years, got my degree in Marketing, and got married in 2011. I earn an upper middle income, go to church, and have been recently been working on losing some weight (I’ve lost 30 lbs. so far) and writing my second book. Yes, I published my first book in 2011! (Prayers & Pillow Talk: A Rape Survivors Journey to Self-Worth.) I’m currently featured in a billboard campaign in California through Tulare-Kings Right to Life, with Save The 1 speakers in each ad, so good things are happening and I definitely feel blessed and a sense of purpose!
My immediately family is great and we became stronger after that trial. In fact, my parents have now been married 32 years, despite that really trying time for our family. My dad has since apologized to me, and said he is so very grateful I chose to trust God instead of trying to please him, because he loves his grand-daughter so much!
My daughter knows she is a gift from God. I tell her every chance she gets. She looks just like ME, and when I see her smile, I see how good God is and how he took this bad experience and made it beautiful!
CLICK LIKE IF YOU’RE PRO-LIFE!
Although she doesn’t know her biological father, and probably won’t ever know him, she has an adoptive Dad who loves her dearly and would die for her, a biological Grandpa (my dad) who is now crazy about her and so proud (he finally overcame his shame and we are stronger than ever too), and many uncles, aunts, and cousins on my side, and her adoptive side, who get to see just how wonderful and amazing God is and how He is able to do some really incredible and miraculous things when we give our problems to Him. She is a really happy teen who is discovering herself more everyday – she loves dance, photography, and singing.
How did I heal? Mainly, it’s been knowing that my situation was used by God. Sharing my story to help others helps me heal too, because shame can’t live when we refuse to be silent. Over time, and with the help of my counselors, family, and support of friends, I was able to overcome a lot of struggles. With the help of counselors and prayer, I was able to forgive the man who raped me. Why? Because, after all, he is human too. Someone probably hurt him once if he thinks that behavior was okay.
I know that is a crazy idea to most, because I had a huge burden to carry because of what he did, I endured a lot of grief, and I gave up my only child for adoption after carrying her for nine months. It was surely hard. I almost didn’t make it and wanted to hurt myself many times because I felt ashamed. For many years, I hated him, blamed him, felt the world owed me one, and I was mad at God. The world told me I was weak, crazy, dirty, and that my daughter didn’t deserve to live. But, now that I have peace with this journey of mine, it gave me an incredible testimony which I am blessed to see impacts people every day. I hope my story is an encouragement to you.
So, when people ask why I’m pro-life, it’s mainly for two reasons.
crystalblount
First of all, because I feel a passion to stand up for those tiny beating hearts who God felt we’d protect, provide for and be strong enough to bring them into this world because every life matters. Secondly, I’m pro-life for the women and girls who are so often left alone, abandoned, dirty, and feeling like they just can’t do it. They have been told throughout life in our society that rape makes them dirty, and that pregnancy is unthinkable. But the sins of the father, aren’t the sins of the child — not any more than my sins belong to you, or vice versa. If rapists aren’t even given the death penalty (it’s been deemed too harsh), why should unborn human babies be sentenced to death for the rapists’ crimes?
We each have our own lives to live — each of us who have been given the chance at life that is. I want all unborn babies to have a chance at life, no matter what any of us has done — no matter what mistakes I made, or whatever mistakes the man who raped me made.
I want us all to have our own shot at being love, life, and an inspiration to this world. I want us to be willing to protect each other, and to be there for the girls who have been taken advantage of — not make them feel dirty, ashamed, and then have to have their own flesh and blood literally sucked from them.
It’s my goal now to tell every girl she is precious, to tell every woman she is strong enough to make it through anything, and that there are people who want to help her get through it, despite what society says. I want to tell them to choose life because there are people who will love that baby to the ends of the earth if she feels she can’t be an adequate parent. And that is totally okay. I was so blessed, and my daughter is amazing! God loves when we bring our messes to him so He can turn them into a Message.
I hope if you run into a girl or woman one day who might be struggling with the decision to choose life for her baby (regardless of the circumstances), that you will think of me, and encourage her that she can and will succeed at anything. Let her know that she isn’t alone, that there are people who make it their mission to help, that she IS strong enough to handle anything in life which comes her way, and that she can do it in a way which gives life and is beautiful. Even if getting pregnant wasn’t her fault, and especially if it wasn’t her fault, she shouldn’t be punished by having to go through another trauma, and her baby isn’t guilty either.
LifeNews Note: Crystal Blount is a pro-life speaker and blogger for Save The 1. Her own website is www.CrystalBlount.com. Share this story:
MY fetus......... whom I call my sister......... is a seven month premmie..
now that is something to believe in....
Babies belong to both parents. However, in the case of rape and incest, the sperm donor forfeits the right to be called father.
God bless this amazing woman-—and he has.
What a blessed family.
Great piece thanks for posting it.
two of my friends, a couple in their 40’s who have been trying to conceive for years, last December were finally given a baby by their adoption agency, after 3 years of waiting.
They don’t know the circumstances of the mother’s pregnancy, only that she was young, and single, and not from the area.
Their lives as a couple have been turned upside-down with happiness, and they are over the moon with joy for their child. Their daughter is nearly 6 months old now - sweetest child you ever saw.
its all possible because that young pregnant mother chose life.
Excellent article. Thank you.
Both Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck are for abortion after rape.
Think about it: They think that killing your baby is a healing experience.
Pro abortion argument of “it’s the woman’s body and she decides what to do with her body with abortion” is wrong though. True about the woman and her body, but the issue involves another persons body; the baby’s.
My daughter was also pregnant at 14 by a much older man, 19’years old, so it was statutory rape. When I finally was informed of the pregnancy there had almost been an abortion decision, and I when I was told I expressed my disapproval for any abortion.
Today my grand daughter is the light of my life, and it is disturbing to everyone involved abortion was even considered.
And what most dont realize is that baby is really you and how do you turn yourback on a product of yourself
Thank you for sharing this story of tremendous courage and blessing.
My children are all 1/2 mine! Giving a child the death penalty for doing nothing but exist, is a crime of the worst sort.
Years ago, I met a pretty young woman, with whom I thought I could have some good times (I was not in the market for a wife, having been married once already). The first time we sat down somewhere and had a “get to know each other” type of discussion, she casually mentioned having had a baby at 17- I knew that she didn’t have a child living with her, so I said “Whoa- back up a minute- where’s your baby now?”. She then went on to explain, with a very tender expression on her face, that she knew that she couldn’t give him a good home by herself, so she put him up to be adopted (open adoption, but she left the family alone). I knew then that she might just be a keeper- and soon, we’ll have our 16th anniversary (and our daughter just turned 14). That young man is an adult now. I know that my wife thinks of him often, and I am proud of her every day for putting the needs of that baby before her own desire to be his mother!
Was the rapist ever charged, I wonder. If not, he probably went on to rape more.
Good for this girl. People have to deal with whatever unfortunate things happen to them, having something bad happen to you does not give us the right to kill a child period.
All the killing of children going on because of how people vote, and how the filthy courts rule on this stuff??
If these children were 6 months old and in a nursery school, police snipers would take out the killers, but because they are still in the womb the masses say it`s ok.
People over the years have given their lives and taken the law into their own hands, in many cases they have saved many lives. People have condemned them, but nevertheless they have saved lives. Children have been born that would not have been born had it not been for these “crazy people” taking action. No I would not do such a thing, but I certainly will not condemn them either.
There are no innocent people in these places, outside of the babies.
I think he has a foundation
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