Posted on 12/13/2005 7:49:21 AM PST by Rutles4Ever
A mother who found out she had cancer after becoming pregnant sacrificed her life for her unborn baby by refusing an abortion and chemotherapy, a British newspaper reported.
Devout Catholic Bernadette Mimura, known as Milai, shunned the potentially life-saving treatment because doctors told her it would kill the child, the Northern Echo regional daily reported Friday.
The 37-year-old, a native of the Philippines who lived near Stockton-on-Tees in northeast England with her British partner, Adam Taylor, survived long enough to see the birth of their son, Nathan.
But soon after seeing him baptized, she was transferred to a hospice and died about a week later.
"Being a Catholic, for her abortion was out of the question," Mr. Taylor told the newspaper. "It was a tough decision, but the decision was we could not give up on Nathan."
The boy, now 4 months old, was premature but was born fit and healthy.
Father Alan Sheridan, who performed the baptism, told Britain's domestic Press Association news agency: "Bernadette said the most important thing was the birth of her baby and she would not do anything to harm him.
"Having an abortion was never a consideration. I know she talked it over with Adam and because she was a Catholic, there was no way she would have done it.
"She had to judge which life was more important and she just prayed there would be a cure for cancer." Father Sheridan is spearheading an appeal to raise $6,490 to repatriate Mrs. Mimura's body to the Philippines for burial. Money left over will help her other three children from a first marriage.
The priest said he hoped the Manila government would help with a grant to fly the three youngsters from Britain for the ceremony.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
"No, this is not required....."
Thank you, I appreciate your response. Guess I am selfish about this "life" discernment as I could NOT encourage or demand my child give up her life were she in a similar health circumstance. I would NOT fight her on it but believe you me I would be telling her just how much her "life" means to me and those around her.
see post #37
In your world, sinners cannot be redeemed?
My brother-in-law's first wife was faced with the same choice: she found out she had cancer not long after she learned she was pregnant. She also refused treatment in an effort to save her baby's life even at the cost of her own. The baby died unborn, two days before she did. She left my brother-in-law with three small children, ages 2 to 6. Thankfully my (future) wife and her parents were able to build a house next door and help out for several years.
Jesus loved Mary Magdalene.
"The baby died unborn, two days before she did. "
How sad! Life sometimes deals us hands we can't understand, it seems. I'm so sorry for your brother-in-law. He will need much strength of spirit.
these are the odd situations. unfortunately this is probably a real connundrum for a catholic, which is the worse cardinal sin, abortion or suicide?
personally, i believe she made the right choice. i told my fiancee that in a choice between her and our child, the only way that she would win was if there was absolutely no way the child would survive in any case. and of course, same goes for me, child comes first.
That he has. He remarried about 10 years after his wife's death. A widower with three children, of course he married a widow with three children. (Cue The Brady Bunch theme...)
Sheesh. I may be going out on a limb here, BUT I THINK SHE'S DONE HER PENANCE!
Prayers to her family. What a sad story :(
Having lost a baby born too early, I've gained a different perspective on this type of problem. If I was in this situation, I don't think I could live with myself knowing that I decided to wipe out my child's life to save my own. Like any mother, I have a lot of unfounded guilt about my son's death. I can't imagine what I'd have to live with if I was the actual cause of it. It wouldn't be unselfish in any way to die so that my child could live. I'd be in heaven with my Lord (and my son!) instead of living a miserable existance on this earth.
Speaking as a non-Catholic Christian, I think this is an exceptional case where the life of the mother would allow abortion.
I wonder if the mother couldn't have had the treatment and prayed for the health of the baby?
I'm pro-life, but I actually agree with you on this one.
It is sad and unfortunate either way.
She saved one child, but now all her children are without their mommy. It is a difficult choice.
For those, however, who choose abortion because the pregnancy is inconvenient....SHAME ON THEM!
"Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Jn 15-13.
I think this sainted woman wouldn't have had an abortion whether she was Catholic or not. She did the thing any mother would and should do. She PROTECTED her child. God bless her and I know she is looking down on her son Nathan and will always be his Guardian Angel. Those who think otherwise just don't get it. Prayers also for the rest of her family as well. This woman LOVED her unborn baby. I'm sorry little Nathan won't have his mother with him physically but...he will always know what a hero she was.
You have to repent in order to be forgiven.
Outstanding post. I remember when a mother would gladly sacrifice her life for her children. How times have changed...
"gladly"?
I don't think there's ever been a time it wasn't tragic and sad.
God bless this mother!
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