Abortion
Attempt
Survivor
Speaks Out Against the Intergenerational Impact of
Abortion
Melissa Ohden's 19 month old daughter, Olivia, was not supposed to have
a chance at life because of abortion. Not because Melissa ever
considered aborting her, but because Melissa, herself, was aborted at
approximately 24 weeks of gestation and survived.
Abortion attempt survivors, in and of themselves, are rare in our
society. Having an abortion attempt survivor become a mother, herself,
and speak out against the intergenerational impact of abortion, is
certainly even more of a rarity. But by all appearances, Melissa is up
for the challenge that faces her in her ministry. "It's my calling,"
states Melissa. "This is who I am; I wouldn't change a thing."
Although adoption was an intrinsic part of her family and life, Melissa
didn't learn that she was the survivor of a failed saline infusion
abortion attempt until she was in the 8th grade. Finding out the
painful reality of how she entered the world truly changed her life and
the lives of all of those around her forever, and understandably, it
hasn't always been easy.
"Ashamed, guilty, and embarrassed," is how Melissa describes the
predominant feelings she had for many years after finding out about
surviving the abortion attempt. Even though Melissa felt an
overwhelming sense of gratitude for being saved from certain death, for
many years shame and embarrassment at being "so unwanted," and guilt
for growing up to be perfectly happy, healthy and successful rendered
her silent.
After a long journey of healing, and a decades-long, but successful
search for her birth records and biological family, however, Melissa
came forward publicly in 2007 to share her story with the world and
provide a voice to the millions of voiceless, aborted children just
like her. Since that time, Melissa's life has come full circle, as she
gave birth to her first child, Olivia, at the very same hospital where
her own life was supposed to end.
In spite of all the blessings that Melissa has received in her life,
her search for the truth has not been painless, and many of her
experiences have been emotionally and spiritually challenging. Sadly,
even though Melissa had discovered that she was living in the same city
as her biological father in 2007, he passed away in 2008, prior to ever
meeting her. With his passing, however, many gifts have come. Although
her father had never told anyone about Melissa, after discovering a
letter that she had sent him months prior to his passing, her
biological father's family contacted her after his death.
"There's still so much grief," Melissa says about her father's passing.
Since initially being contacted by the paternal side of her family,
Melissa has now met her grandfather and great-aunt, whom she sees on a
regular basis. She has also spoken to her grandmother by phone and her
father's wife by email. The pain of losing her father and discovering
that he carried the secret of Melissa with him all of his life, and
ultimately to his death, is still too much for many in his family to
handle, yet Melissa hopes that she will someday meet other family
members, including a younger half-sister, that is unknowingly living in
the same city as her currently.
Although Melissa has never had the opportunity to meet her biological
mother, she has communicated with her maternal grandparents by letter,
and she hopes to someday have contact with her mother, also. She is
grateful that she has been given the opportunity to reach out to both
of her biological parents and their families to let them know that she
has forgiven them for the decision that was made to end her life, and
has lived a full, blessed life.
"One decision, one single moment, can have such a detrimental impact on
so many people, living and dead, born and yet to be conceived," is the
driving point of Melissa's message. Melissa's life and her ministry
speaks to the true reality of abortion and the impact it has on not
just women and children, but men, grandparents, aunts and uncles,
siblings, cousins, friends, and communities. Yet it is also about so
much more.
Melissa shares her inspiring story of survival and the awesome power of
faith, hope, love and forgiveness in by speaking at Christian and
pro-life events across the U.S. and Canada, through radio and TV
interviews, and through her website-- www.melissaohden.com. Previously
a speaker with Feminists for Life's College Outreach program, Melissa
is now a member of the Ambassador Speaker's Bureau--
www.ambassadorspeakers.com.
Earlier this year, Melissa spoke at the fundraiser and Day of Prayer
for the International Week of Prayer and Fasting in Washington, D.C.
She also spoke at fundraising events for Right to Life groups and
pregnancy resource centers and also at colleges and various religious
events. Melissa has been a guest on Gus Lloyd's Seize the Day, and will
be a guest on Daily Life News, a National Pro-Life Radio program, with
Day Gardner on December 16th, 2009. Melissa's ministry will be featured
on Phil Waldrep's Living with Joy radio show in January 2010.
Contact: Melissa
Ohden
Publish
Date:
December 14, 2009
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The IFRL is the largest grassroots pro-life organization in
Illinois. A non-profit organization, that serves as the state
coordinating body for local pro-life chapters representing thousands of
Illinois citizens working to restore respect for all human life in our
society. The IFRL is composed of people of different political
persuasions, various faiths and diverse economic, social and ethnic
backgrounds. Since 1973 the Illinois Federation for Right to Life has
been working to end abortion and restore legal protection to those members of the
human family who are threatened by abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. Diverse though we are, we hold one common belief - that
every human being has an inalienable right to life that is precious and must be protected. IFRL is
dedicated to restoring the right to life to the unborn, and protection
for the disabled and the elderly. Click here to learn more about the IFRL.