posted
Do chow me if this has been mentioned before because I have a feeling it may have.
My mother has always been pro-life. When I was 10 or 11 I remember her reading me a story in Readers Digest. Not only is this Glurge but may be an Urban Legend as well. RD is a breeding ground for both. This is what I remember of the story: A woman was pregnant and the doctor knew the child was going to be deformed somehow. He tried persuading to have an abortion. The woman refused despite his pleas. She eventualy had the child and I can't recall what the deformity the child had. Years later the doctor was somewhere where he saw a young girl playing a beautiful song on the piano. He was so moved by the girls music that he inquired about her. The woman that was also in the room said that it was her daughter. It was then the doctor realized this was the same woman whom he tried to persuade to get an abortion. The child was the baby he thought should be aborted.
Anybody else remember this story. Sorry it is so vague but it was almost 30 years ago that I heard it. Not only glurgy but also smacks of being an UL.
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posted
I googled doctor, abort(ion) and piano, and the closest I could come up with was this article. It's about a woman who corresponded with President Reagan, thanking him for taking a pro-life stance. When she was pregnant, she couldn't abort her baby (pre Roe vs. Wade days), and she had this to say about her daughter:
quote:I asked about that daughter that Ruth didn't abort in 1963. She is now 40. Said Ruth: "She has just been a blessing — an appreciative, wonderful daughter; never a problem. She's a musician now. Has a grand piano."
It's a stretch, and probably not the right story (especially since this article was written recently - since Reagan died), but maybe somehow related to your UL? The girl would have been around, and probably learning the piano, 30 years ago.
On a related note, there is a woman at my church who is severely handicapped and lives in a group home, but every once in a while she will sit down at the piano after the worship service and she plays very well.
I think the original story would be better told as a lesson about the value anyone can add to the world, whether they are "perfectly healthy" or not.
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I think I remember that story, only my memories are slightly different. My recollection was that abortion never entered the picture, a normal birth was anticipated. At the hospital, the child was born with no legs and wasn't breathing, and the doctor considered letting it die, but had second thoughts and saved the child's life. Years later, he sees her as a young woman in an orchestra playing the harp.
quote:Originally posted by A Tale of Tootsie Teas: I think I remember that story, only my memories are slightly different. My recollection was that abortion never entered the picture, a normal birth was anticipated. At the hospital, the child was born with no legs and wasn't breathing, and the doctor considered letting it die, but had second thoughts and saved the child's life. Years later, he sees her as a young woman in an orchestra playing the harp.
I read that link and it sure sounds like the story my mother told me. Perhaps abortion wasn't mentioned. I will have to let her read it and see if she remembers it. Now,of course,the question is-is the story true?
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posted
Well, also on that site is the 26 Armed Guards story, which snopes has already addressed.
Actually there are all sorts of glurgey stories listed under their "Inspirational Stories," including the stories from dead kids (Death of an Innocent) and Children's Letters to God.
I'm guessing it's just that - inspirational stories, with no real concern for finding out if they're true. Curious to hear what your mom remembers about the story, Bobo!
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posted
About 15 years ago I heard one such anti-abortion glurge on a Christian radio station. It was featured on a pro-life radio program hosted by John Wilke of some pro-life organization.
Wilke read a "testimony" from a woman who claimed that once when she was pregnant, her doctor recommended an abortion because there was the very strong possibility that she would suffer a fatal miscarriage--that is, both she and her unborn child would die. Her doctor tried to encourage her to have an abortion to save her own life, at least.
She did some soul searching, and during all this had a dream where she saw a sailor. God told her not to have the abortion. She decided not to have it, and she gave birth to a healthy son. Years later she saw him after he joined the Navy. Her son was the sailor in her dream.
She ended her testimony by saying that she believed abortion is wrong in all circumstances. She did not believe there is such a situation where a pregnant woman may die of a fatal miscarriage. She cited Psalm 139 where the Psalmist says, "Thou (God) has knitted me together in my mother's womb," as proof that once life is conceived, no one should interfere with what God has initiated.
Her story, if exactly true, is merely the experience of one person. It shouldn't be used to influence abortion laws. Geez!
Barbara
Posts: 378 | From: Boonville, Missouri USA | Registered: Dec 2003
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NansJns
The Red and the Green Stamps
posted
quote:She ended her testimony by saying that she believed abortion is wrong in all circumstances. She did not believe there is such a situation where a pregnant woman may die of a fatal miscarriage.
And when did she get a medical degree? So because she got lucky, the hazardous situation couldn't possibly exist for anyone else?! That is so stupid!! If she had survived cancer, would she say that there aren't people who die of cancer? I'm sorry, but there are times abortion neccessary, and women can die from complications in their pregnancies. I know she's not on this board, but I feel the need to say it anyway: Learn to deal with true reality, lady!
I know that it's a lot less likely for women to die today from pregnancy complications, but crud still happens, you know?
quote:Actually there are all sorts of glurgey stories listed under their "Inspirational Stories," including the stories from dead kids (Death of an Innocent)
I haven't looked at a Reader's Digest in years but now I'm tempted. Can't think of anything more inspirational than a story from a dead kid. "I'm so glad I don't have to grow up and fall in love and have children of my own. Thanks God!"
Posts: 307 | From: California | Registered: Jan 2004
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Brian, I was talking about the website where the Tiny Foot story was. There are other "author unknown" glurges on it so I didn't think it would necessarily be reliable.
Tootsie, you are a google queen. So the story is true. I wonder if any of his books are available at the library.
Eve "and I was just there today!" MG
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posted
You are so right, NansJns! Those who say that because Psalm 139 or any other biblical proof text mentions a fetus of one person being formed for special purpose mandates outlawing ALL abortions are dogmatic and narrow-minded! This is especially true if they cite personal experience like the one given by that woman and her sailor vision story.
Personal testimony alone does not make scientific/medical truth. A lot of individuals can come forward and relate testimonies that bear witness to an experience that supports the opposite conclusion. That is, believing that one's life is not in danger from a pregnancy, only to have both mother and fetus end up dead!
Amen?
Barbara
Posts: 378 | From: Boonville, Missouri USA | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
This is not a stand on Pro-Choice; it's merely my attack on Glurge. That being said, read on:
I guess it's not surprising that none of these RD articles ever say something to the effect of "Even though her doctor advised her of the critically and irreversibly deformed condition the baby would be born in, and that giving birth would put both her and the child into a potentially fatally situation, she decided not to abort it. Lo and behold, when delivery day came, the mother died upon giving birth and the baby was a stillborn."
In Glurgeland, every single child that is found to be deformed prior to birth is destined to become someone famous that will change the world in some earth-shattering way. Even better, these birth defects will somehow always clear up and they will lead long, unbelievably productive lives.
Posts: 918 | From: Southern CA | Registered: Jan 2004
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quote:Brian, I was talking about the website where the Tiny Foot story was.
Ooops. I got it confused with the mention of Reader's Digest in the OP. Still, I bet stories from dead kids would be more entertaining than "Humor in Uniform".
Posts: 307 | From: California | Registered: Jan 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Class Bravo: This is not a stand on Pro-Choice; it's merely my attack on Glurge. That being said, read on:
I guess it's not surprising that none of these RD articles ever say something to the effect of "Even though her doctor advised her of the critically and irreversibly deformed condition the baby would be born in, and that giving birth would put both her and the child into a potentially fatally situation, she decided not to abort it. Lo and behold, when delivery day came, the mother died upon giving birth and the baby was a stillborn."
In Glurgeland, every single child that is found to be deformed prior to birth is destined to become someone famous that will change the world in some earth-shattering way. Even better, these birth defects will somehow always clear up and they will lead long, unbelievably productive lives.
On another forum a woman is asking for prayers for a relative
She had high blood pressure which caused an apparent previously unsuspected but life long kidney condition, to threaten her life.
They decided to continue.
Fetus born dead at 6 months.
Woman on dialysis.
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posted
Very sad. Very sad indeed. My prayers go out to this woman and her family.
That is a terrible situation to be put into. On one hand, she knew that if she decided to continue she would be facing these potentially life-threatening health risks. On the other hand, if she had chosen to abort then she would have been faced with the biggest "What If?" imagineable. A lose-lose situation all around.
Posts: 918 | From: Southern CA | Registered: Jan 2004
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I had a friend in high school who became a born again Christian right as we graduated high school. She went to a bible college in one state and I went to a traditional college in another, but we kept in touch. She got pregnant, so she married the guy. She told me while pregnant that the fetus had several severe medical problems and the doctor suggested abortion because there was a risk to her health, but she was doing God's will and carrying the baby. The baby was stillborn, and she luckily survived. She risked her life, married a man she didn't love, got divorced right after the stillbirth. Sometimes, the doctors know what they're talking about!
Posts: 2115 | From: Texas | Registered: Sep 2003
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That woman thought she was doing God's will by carrying the baby to term, only to have it be stillborn! I suppose she thought the stillbirth was God's will! Fortuntately she survived, whereas in other cases, both mother and child can die.
Stillbirths are another reason why the theological notion that God is responsible for conception and fetal developement is convoluted, circular reasoning. Why would God initiate a new life only to kill it before it is born?
Why not admit that Psalm 139 has nothing to do with everyday people?
Barbara
Posts: 378 | From: Boonville, Missouri USA | Registered: Dec 2003
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quote:Originally posted by kismet: A true story, and an anti-glurge:
I had a friend in high school who became a born again Christian right as we graduated high school. She went to a bible college in one state and I went to a traditional college in another, but we kept in touch. She got pregnant, so she married the guy. She told me while pregnant that the fetus had several severe medical problems and the doctor suggested abortion because there was a risk to her health, but she was doing God's will and carrying the baby. The baby was stillborn, and she luckily survived. She risked her life, married a man she didn't love, got divorced right after the stillbirth. Sometimes, the doctors know what they're talking about!
But you know, it was her choice to carry the fetus to term, and her decision to make, not the doctor's. Regardless of how it turned out, at that time, that was the right decision for her. Why should we criticize it?
Pogue
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Good point, Pogue. I think sometimes people get so wrapped up in the "choice" argument that they tend to forget a choice can go *both* ways. If you are not going to criticize her for choosing to get an abortion, then you have no business choosing to criticize her for deciding not to get one. After all, that is the choice she made, and the choice is hers and hers alone.
Posts: 918 | From: Southern CA | Registered: Jan 2004
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I question the intelligence of ANY decision that stands to benefit noone and could cause so much grief and loss. The friend told me the doctor had verified one disorder that meant for sure the child could not live past 6 months old, if it survived birth at all. The fetus had several problems. And the mother's physical state meant she could well die in labor.
Now I know this is a smart girl who made this decision. And I know it was based on guilt and being brow-beaten by the church at an emotionally vulnrable time. And that makes me very sad. This friend has since said that she made the wrong decision, so she obviously agrees with me, although I never made my oppinion known.
At the time she made this decision, I offered nothing but love and support, just as I did for another friend who decided to abort a healthy fetus the year before. It is not my place to make their lives more difficult by vocalising my aproval or disaproval of their decisions. But I can certainly question either decision intelectually.
Posts: 2115 | From: Texas | Registered: Sep 2003
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StarlandVocalBand
The Red and the Green Stamps
posted
Well, I do think there's a difference between, as kismet says, "questioning a decision" on the basis of an analysis of the facts, and "criticizing someone for that decision."
People do make choices that are ill-advised, and if they do so because of deeply held principle, they are to be admired for sticking to their principles, but that doesn't mean the choices aren't still ill-advised.
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Doctor: "Well, we did the tests, and I'm afraid there's a 97% chance that your baby will grow up to write really bad glurge, which will be published in Reader's Digest and end up in everyone's e-mail."
Pregnant woman: "You mean my child is going to be....STUPID??? NOOOO! *sob*"
-------------------- If ignorance is bliss, then why aren't more people happy? Posts: 332 | From: Arizona | Registered: Apr 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Barbara R.: Stillbirths are another reason why the theological notion that God is responsible for conception and fetal developement is convoluted, circular reasoning. Why would God initiate a new life only to kill it before it is born?
Barbara
Ditto miscarriages. (Mrs. Jay Temple has endured three.)
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If she had survived cancer, would she say that there aren't people who die of cancer? I'm sorry, but there are times abortion neccessary, and women can die from complications in their pregnancies. I know she's not on this board, but I feel the need to say it anyway: Learn to deal with true reality, lady!
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So the story is true. I wonder if any of his books are available at the library.
