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A Life Witness

5/1/2019

4 Comments

 
In 1992 my husband and I were expecting a son, and at about 18 weeks into the pregnancy, doctors saw serious anomalies on the ultrasound. The baby’s kidneys were not developing, and there was serious concern about lack of enough amniotic fluid for the baby to continue to grow in time. We took a wait and see attitude, and we were now managing a ‘high-risk pregnancy’.

From the time you find out that you are pregnant, you become active parents. You start making decisions for that baby’s life right away.
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Baby Brandon Joseph
As my pregnancy progressed, medical concerns for the baby’s life and my own life were discussed. The doctors recommended ‘terminating the pregnancy’ at around 27 weeks. I refused all ideas of ‘terminating.’ Then the doctors suggested testing to see if the baby would have chromosomal issues. This would not change my decision, but the result may have affected their ideas on how to treat this high-risk pregnancy with respect. The test came back normal, and we learned that we were having a son. We immediately gave him the first gift that parents can give their child, his name. Brandon Joseph.

It became ‘medically necessary’ to deliver the baby early, thereby terminating the pregnancy, but not necessarily the baby. Immediately after birth, baby Brandon was baptised.

Every day of Brandon’s life had value because of the effect his personality had on each person who met him – his parents, his sister, and the doctors, nurses, volunteer cuddlers, interns, roommates, and extended family. Brandon lived for seven months. Just as any loved one who dies in a family, his memory continues to influence our family to this day.
Today, I am the educational resource consultant for Calgary Pro-Life Association. School teachers invite me to their classrooms to give presentations on positive self-esteem, and the miracle of life/fetal development, to students in grades five to 12!

During one presentation, students hear the sound of the fetal heartbeat that started between 18 and 22 days; then learn that at four weeks, they were the size of my thumb nail; at six weeks their brain was developing, and at 12 weeks they were the size of my thumb! We continue to talk about the development of the fetus until birth.

All of us have a responsibility to affirm life in our culture. We need to ask ourselves: How are we modeling the virtues of motherhood to our daughters and the virtue of fatherhood to our sons? How are we raising men who will support women in that natural affection that they ought to have for their children?
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Tell everyone you meet, no matter the age or stage in life, that they really matter and that they have a life purpose that is exciting to watch as it continues to be revealed day by day! This is how we share the pro-life message so that women and men will know that they have the right to life; and the right to choose life for themselves; for their own children now, and in the future.

Written by Moniqe Achtman, ​parishioner of Holy Spirit Parish, and Educational Resource Consultant for Calgary Pro-Life Association. www.calgaryprolife.com 

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Monique Achtman
4 Comments
Deborah Jans
5/3/2019 01:20:42 pm

God Bless you, in this valuable and sacred mission, as you enlighten all minds, young and old

Reply
Monique link
5/20/2019 06:05:47 pm

Thank you for your prayers and blessings as we share life-affirming stories. Young people need to our personal stories/faith witness, family history, and just how important each life in a family is no matter how short or long-lived. ~Peace, Monique

Reply
Linda
5/19/2019 07:03:32 am

Such a beautiful boy 😓

Reply
RJ Pisko
5/19/2019 08:59:10 pm

So - we are being persuaded by "The Church" (which I was born into) to value unborn life over the life of a woman - whose womb is nobody's business but hers and her doctor's? Okay - that would Jesus say - or do? Tell me in all your Catholic (catholic) wisdom how you know what God's son would do or say? And let's be real, here - let's not pontificate with the alt-right anti-Christ platitudes. Tell me EXACTLY what our Christ would say or do - in ANY circumstance of a woman's own body . . . and tell me how you know WITHOUT using the word "faith"? What about masturbation? What about THAT? That's also "potential life", is it not?

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