Disabilities: A Reason for Abortion?

As a psychologist, I spent most of my professional life working with people who suffered from disabilities – toddlers as well as adults, in schools, hospitals, day care programs, social service agencies, clinics, and residential facilities. Their disabilities may have been emotional, mental, physical, behavioral, or a combination of the above. Some were readily apparent, while others were hidden. Some were genetic, while others were environmental. Most, however, were a combination of heredity and environment. But the one thing they all had in common was they were loved – they had a mother who loved them enough to give life to them despite their disabilities or the hardships she faced. Each one of them had a mother who loved them despite their imperfections and the difficulties surrounding their birth.

We can all think of people we have known personally who have been able to rise above their handicaps or the tragic circumstances of their lives – to succeed in life despite the odds. How is this possible?

I would like to introduce you to a few of the more famous “disabled” people whose mothers chose not to abort, but decided to give birth to them, instead.

1. While he was being formed in the womb, this baby’s mother took thalidomide -- a drug doctors prescribed to help calm morning sickness during pregnancy. Consequently, he was born with no arms. He was brought to the Los Angeles area from Nicarauga to be fitted with artificial arms. He wore them until he was ten, when he disposed of them. He learned to do many things with his feet, including playing the guitar. Today, he is a highly talented composer and musician and has recorded many successful albums. He has traveled across the United States and twenty-seven foreign countries, making countless television appearances. He has performed several times before the Pope and his autobiography is a bestseller.

2. This baby boy was born with Down’s syndrome. His parents were told to institutionalize him when he was a newborn, but refused to and instead, taught and nurtured him at home. He has starred in an ABC TV series and has released several albums.

3. This baby girl was born to poor, unwed, teenage parents in Kosciusko, Mississippi. Her mother was an eighteen-year-old housemaid and her father was a twenty-year-old doing duty in the armed forces. For the first six years of her life, she was raised on a Mississippi farm by her grandmother. She was raped by a cousin when she was nine years old and later molested by a male friend of her mother's and by an uncle. The young girl never told anyone about the abuse that she was suffering. Instead, she held her anger and pain inside and she rebelled. She repeatedly ran away and got into trouble. She had so many emotional and behavioral problems that her mother tried to put her in a detention facility. Today she is a national celebrity – an actress, writer, producer, activist, and talk show host. She is known for her generosity toward others.

4. This baby girl’s mother was 12 years old when she was raped at knife point by a 23-year-old, who violated her because she was a virgin. She was conceived through that rape. As a child, she was raised in Pennsylvania’s red light district and she became the leader of a street gang. As a young woman, she was known as a “hell-raiser” and became a professional thief out of necessity, stealing food. Despite all this, she later became a famous jazz singer and actress, appearing on stage and in television and films. She was known for her generosity and kindness toward others.

Have you guessed who these people are yet? They are: 1. Tony Melendez, 2. Chris Burke, 3. Oprah Winfrey, and 4. Ethel Waters.

What secret ingredient or gift did they have that many others don’t have? How were they able to overcome and transcend the adverse circumstances of their lives? Was it their intelligence? Perhaps it was their motivation, determination, and perseverance. It may have been that the adverse experiences they had as children made them stronger adults. Psychologists have conducted a number of studies analyzing why some people are able to overcome and transcend such difficulties.

Ultimately, it all boils down to one thing. Each one of them was given a chance –the right to life. Without this, they would have been unable to accomplish anything. Without life, they wouldn’t have had a chance to develop any of their God – given skills or talents that touch and influence so many other lives today. Each of us, no matter what our circumstances, abilities, or disabilities in life have the right to be born. Don’t deny your baby that right. Love your little one – give her the gift of life!