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Abortion Survivor Sarah Smith
prolife.com ^ | unsure | Sarah Smith

Posted on 04/07/2009 9:01:40 AM PDT by do the dhue

Twins -- one aborted, one survives!

Sarah tells her story . . .

"Twenty-nine years ago, my mother decided to have an abortion. At the time, she was pregnant with twins, but nobody knew this, not even her doctor. My tiny brother and I were both there growing in her womb, until that dreadful day. Before the abortion, we were both alive. Moments later, I was alone.

It's frightening to think I was almost aborted when my mom had a D&C abortion. Somehow, miraculously, I survived! My twin brother wasn't so lucky. Andrew was aborted and we lost him forever.

Several weeks later, my mother was shocked to feel me kicking in her womb. She already had five children and she knew what it felt like when a baby kicked in the womb. She instantly knew that somehow she was still pregnant. She went back to the doctor and told him she was still pregnant...that she had made a big mistake and that she wanted to keep this baby.

To this day, my mother deeply regrets that abortion. I know the pain is unbearable for her at times when she looks at me and knows she aborted my twin brother. Mom says 'the protective hand of Almighty God saved my life . . . that God's hand covered and hid me in her womb, and protected me from the scalpel of death.

After surviving the abortion, I was born with bilateral, congenital dislocated hips and many other physical handicaps. Nine days after I was born, I was taken to an orthopedic surgeon who applied a cast to each of my tiny legs. My mom would remove these casts with pliers every Monday morning and take me to the doctor to have new casts put on.

At six weeks I was put into my first body cast. Many surgeries and body cast followed over the next few years. Unfortunately, doctors are telling me that now I'll need surgeries about every 5 years (please pray for me).

Today, I thank God I survived the abortion, but the pain continues for everyone in my family. In memory of my brother Andrew, we bought a memorial gravestone and placed it in a cemetary in Southern California. It reads:

ANDREW JAMES SMITH, TWIN BROTHER OF SARAH -- IN OUR HEARTS YOU'LL ALWAYS BE ALIVE -- NOVEMBER 1970

Please share our story with others so the tragedy of abortion stops hurting babies and families. Everyone needs to know the truth about abortion. Thank you."

--Sarah Smith

Sarah can help you save babies!

Order Sarah's Powerful Video . . .

After surviving her mother's abortion in 1970, Sarah Smith has become one of the most powerful pro-life voices in the battle against abortion. Sarah's stirring testimony touches hearts, changes minds and saves lives. Sarah wants to help you make a difference in your community. Please order Sarah's video today and share it with people at churches, schools, rallies and conferences in your community.

This powerful 10-minute documentary was produced by the 700 Club -- and it's one you'll never forget. You'll see Sarah as a baby crawling in a body-cast, then as a teenager and later as a dynamic public speaker who travels the world exposing the pain and suffering caused by abortion. When you see Sarah, you're seeing the face of a beautiful woman who would not be alive today if the abortionist had completed his "job."

Sarah Meeting Pope John Paul II in April 1996 in Rome.

Sarah's Video - Here's How to Order:

Call Heritage House toll-free at 1-800-858-3040 and mention Pro-Life America's web site.

For another article on Sarah Smith & other abortion survivors, click here.

Sarah's Speech In Rome

On April 24, 1996, Sarah Smith gave the following speech at an international pro-life conference in Rome. The conference was called, "A Congress for Life." It was organized to celebrate the first anniversary of Pope John Paul II's encyclical letter Evangelium Vitae - The Gospel of Life. The conference was held at the Legionaries of Christ seminary in Rome and was attended by approximately 500 men and women including; pro-life leaders, political leaders, media representatives, priests and seminarians. Following is the speech given by Sarah Smith:

"My name is Sarah Smith and I wish to thank you all, your eminencies, and all of the wonderful Legionaries of Christ for allowing us to be with you today. I did not know of the abortion until I was 12 years old. I grew up feeling that I was the same as my friends, except for having numerous surgeries and physical complications. The only difference I felt was an incredible loneliness and a knowledge that something was missing. I never felt whole. I battled with severe depression and found myself dying of anorexia nervosa at age 12, when my mother knew it was time to tell me the truth.

She sat next to me and took my hand and looked me in the eyes and said, "Sarah, you are a twin. I aborted your twin brother and tried to abort you. Please know I did not know what I was doing and I pray someday you are able to forgive me. I love you and need you to know that you are a welcome part of our family."

At that moment I knew what I had been missing all my life and that I was called to something much greater than I had knowledge of. Immediately I felt the overwhelming pain of the knowledge that I should be dead. As I stand before you today I am painfully aware that this is only possible because my twin brother took a scalpel for me, and I stand in his place and memory, giving him honor and a face.

We have become bombarded with statistics in our fight for life. Thirty-two million babies are killed in the United States alone. Yet every one had a face, a life, a creator who loved them and created them in His image. As you look at me today, you realize that I am no different than you, yet I stand before you today a representative of the dead -- a representative of the innocent lives who today may lose their lives. Who will speak for them?

The words of Christ are clear - "What you have done to the least of these you have done unto me." You and I are called and commissioned to care for these little ones just as we would care for Jesus Himself. To walk away and say this is not my problem is to walk away from Jesus Himself.

Many people upon finding out about the abortion ask me how did I feel, or to what can I compare this to. The only thing I can compare my life to is that of an innocent Jew being made to walk down the streets of Germany naked in front of many people and into a room he knows he will never come out of. In my case, unfortunately, the people leading me into that room are my mother and father. Yet the people looking on at the sidelines are people like you. And I ask you today, will you speak up or will you silently look away as another person who needs your help is led to their death?

I have forgiven my parents long ago as I remember the words Jesus spoke as he hung bleeding and bruised from the cross, "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do." His words pertain to the sins of abortion. Most men and women who involve themselves with abortion don't know what they're doing, as were my parents.

Many women who demand the right to an abortion say, "It's my body, it's my choice." Let me make one thing very clear to you today - my mother's choice was my death sentence. It is not only a woman's body we are discussing in an abortion. It is the entire flesh and blood of someone just like me.

Then we have the issue of medical personnel stating it is just tissue. For anyone who has ever studied biology, you know better. Before any woman even knows she is pregnant her child already has a beating heart at 20 days. Show me one piece of tissue or cancer you believe must be cut out with a beating heart. Show me a liver or kidney that has it's own blood type. That child is perfect from it's first day. All it needs is time, oxygen and nutrition.

Another startling fact is that in medical journals it states the fetus is capable of feeling pain at 8 weeks of gestation. In America, the vast majority of abortions are performed between 10 to 12 weeks, well after the child can feel the entire procedure. So don't tell me abortion is a simple procedure that expels a piece of tissue and doesn't hurt anybody. I was there. I was less then an inch away from my innocent twin brother when his body was ripped apart, and he felt the entire thing. We were 14 to 16 weeks along in the second trimester. That was how my life was meant to end.

Yet I was spared to stand before you today and tell you on behalf of those who have no voice that if you remain silent, in my country alone a person just like you and me will die every 20 seconds of every day. We have been commissioned by Jesus to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves and we have also been commissioned by the Holy Father, who I had the privilege of meeting a few hours ago.

As I told him my story he looked at me so intensely as if to say, "Speak the message! Proclaim the Truth!" And then he kissed me and gave me a blessing to go and speak about life. And that is what he says to all of you as he blesses and kisses us with his Encyclical. Preach the gospel - the good news of life. What is the greatest gift of all? When Jesus outstretched His arms and said, "This is my body given up for you". Imagine if Jesus had been selfish with His body and not given so freely of His life to you and me. Where would we be today? We would be nothing. The gift of a mother's body for 9 months of her life is one of the most beautiful gifts of all time. We must fight to protect it.

As I stand here alone knowing I have my brother as a precious guardian angel who is with me always, I know my life is a gift. And today I wish to give it back to you, the people and to the church, as a symbol of the consuming power of God's redemption and of His life and truth. You and I as a church represent life, and together we will extend that life into a hurting and dying world. We will give them the truth of life and we shall never be silent.

I love you and God bless you."


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abortion; abortionsurvivors; moralabsolutes; prolife; sarahsmith; survivor; twins
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I thought this story should be shared. I searched FR for info on Sarah and did not find any. If I made an error in my search, I am sorry.
1 posted on 04/07/2009 9:01:41 AM PDT by do the dhue
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To: do the dhue

bttt


2 posted on 04/07/2009 9:04:26 AM PDT by Guenevere ("He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose")
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To: narses; Bag; molette67

ping


3 posted on 04/07/2009 9:04:26 AM PDT by do the dhue (They've got us surrounded again. The poor bastards. - One of General Abram's men)
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To: do the dhue

Just think of all the baby-killers out there who think it is a shame that she survived with the disabilities that she has. God is using her in a powerful way. Please bless her, Lord, with healthfulness.


4 posted on 04/07/2009 9:07:58 AM PDT by DallasDeb (USAFA '06 Mom)
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To: DallasDeb

Amen!!!


5 posted on 04/07/2009 9:10:11 AM PDT by do the dhue (They've got us surrounded again. The poor bastards. - One of General Abram's men)
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To: do the dhue

This is a wonderful story and an excellent tribute to LIFE! Thanks...

;-)


6 posted on 04/07/2009 9:12:10 AM PDT by SumProVita (Cogito, ergo...Sum Pro Vita. (Modified DeCartes))
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To: do the dhue

Ms. Smith, they tried to kill you as an infant and you survived.

You have a powerful message to tell the world.

On these two points, you have something in common with Moses and Jesus.

My first child is almost three months along in the womb. I’ve seen the first ultrasound pictures. I don’t care if my child has Down’s Syndrome, is autistic, whatever. Nobody is chopping my child to pieces. End of story.

(As far as we know, the child is healthy.)


7 posted on 04/07/2009 9:20:59 AM PDT by Our man in washington
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To: Our man in washington
Hear hear!!

And I am glad to hear that the child is healthy too!!

Instead of a tree hugger, you can call me a womb hugger. Besides, the tree huggers will keep people from cutting a tree down because it has a spotted owl's nest with eggs in it. If these people cared about life that much, wouldn't they start with saving human life? They should hug a womb instead of a tree. One day, the life that is in the womb will hug you back.

8 posted on 04/07/2009 9:30:31 AM PDT by do the dhue (They've got us surrounded again. The poor bastards. - One of General Abram's men)
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To: SumProVita

May God bless Sarah Smith!


9 posted on 04/07/2009 9:31:52 AM PDT by do the dhue (They've got us surrounded again. The poor bastards. - One of General Abram's men)
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To: do the dhue; All

I can see the ghouls responding as such:

“All the more reason to ensure the lethality of the procedure. It’s nice that the mother had a change of heart but so many women are dedicated to their abortion. Why should we condemn women to financial challenges and unwanted responsibility just because the procedure occasionally fails?”

Don’t get your hopes up. The pro-abortion liberals are nothing more than the walking dead. They feel no compassion for those currently unlike themselves and know nothing of respect for human life. You cannot convince people to care, that it their own job.


10 posted on 04/07/2009 9:34:38 AM PDT by Soothesayer (The United States of America Rest in Peace November 4 2008)
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To: do the dhue

My sister was close to thirty when she was pregnant with her first baby. The ultrasound looked normal, but her doctor wanted her to have an amniocentecis. My sister wanted to schedule it for a few weeks down the line, but her doctor was urging her to get it done as soon as possible.

She was worried that the seeming need for haste indicated a problem. Her doctor said no problem was seen so far, but that if something surfaced during that test she would want to know as soon as possible so she could “take measures” in case something was wrong with the baby. My sister asked what kind of measures she would take - would she need to change her nutrition, or line up special schooling or care now if the baby had a problem?

The doctor said no, that if the baby had a problem my sister might want the option to terminate the pregnancy as soon as possible.

What a chilling comment that was. Needless to say, my sister made it clear that termination was not an “option.”


11 posted on 04/07/2009 9:38:48 AM PDT by mrs. a (It's a short life but a merry one...)
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To: mrs. a

So much for a Doctor’s bedside manner.


12 posted on 04/07/2009 9:41:20 AM PDT by do the dhue (They've got us surrounded again. The poor bastards. - One of General Abram's men)
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To: Soothesayer

I don’t know what to say to all that. I guess I can just sit here and shake my head.


13 posted on 04/07/2009 9:42:32 AM PDT by do the dhue (They've got us surrounded again. The poor bastards. - One of General Abram's men)
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To: do the dhue
My twin brother wasn't so lucky. Andrew was aborted and we lost him forever.

Who named him?

14 posted on 04/07/2009 9:47:03 AM PDT by humblegunner (Where my PIE at, fool?)
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To: do the dhue

I might be wrong about that but have this strong suspicion that I’m not.


15 posted on 04/07/2009 9:48:33 AM PDT by Soothesayer (The United States of America Rest in Peace November 4 2008)
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To: All

Sarah Meeting Pope John Paul II in April 1996 in Rome.

How could you abort such a pretty lady? Can you imagine how many good people have been aborted already? We are worse then animals. Most animals would protect the life they give. We abort it for our own convenience. Forgive us Lord and help us fight our evil ways.

16 posted on 04/07/2009 9:48:59 AM PDT by do the dhue (They've got us surrounded again. The poor bastards. - One of General Abram's men)
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To: humblegunner

I don’t know, but I would think the mother may have.


17 posted on 04/07/2009 9:50:35 AM PDT by do the dhue (They've got us surrounded again. The poor bastards. - One of General Abram's men)
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To: Soothesayer

My guess is that you are right. You are a Soothesayer, no? ;-)


18 posted on 04/07/2009 9:51:54 AM PDT by do the dhue (They've got us surrounded again. The poor bastards. - One of General Abram's men)
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To: do the dhue

Sadly my prophesies always come true :(


19 posted on 04/07/2009 9:56:25 AM PDT by Soothesayer (The United States of America Rest in Peace November 4 2008)
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To: wagglebee

Bump for LIFE!!!!!


20 posted on 04/07/2009 10:14:54 AM PDT by Faith
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