Sick To My Stomach – Botched Abortion

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by Lamar Tyler | on February 18th, 2009 | 26 comments

There are some news stories that literally make me sick to my stomach when I read them. I’m no wuss…I served time in the military, I’ve been in war zones, I’ve slept in trees, and played six different sports in my lifetime. Perhaps it’s the mother in me that caused me to weep upon reading about Baby Grace and how she was beaten to death before being placed in a rubbermaid container and tossed in a river. Perhaps it’s the more compassionate Harriet that makes emotion rise up like volcanic lava when reading about certain circumstances in the news.

Even though it makes me uncomfortable to react in such a way to the news, ironically enough, I’m grateful, because that means there is something inside of me that’s still alive, and not totally desensitized to the ills that plague humanity as a whole.

If you will, allow me to digress a moment. When my son was a little smaller and would hit his head or get injured in any shape or form, I would get this churning feeling in the bottom of my stomach that would not quit until I was sure he would be all right. Now, it’s more of a foreboding…I’ll walk in a room and see a potentially injurious situation and remove the danger prior to my son invading the area.

The same feeling hit the pit of my stomach upon reading the following article. In summary, a young lady went to an abortion clinic to terminate her six month pregnancy. The doctor gave her medication to dilate her cervix and told her to return in 24 hours. She did, but the doctor was not there at the appointed time. She ended up actually giving birth to a live baby, but one of the owners of the clinic came in the room, cut the umbilical cord, put the baby in a plastic biohazard bag and threw that child in the trash.

The coroner that performed the autopsy said the baby had oxygen in her poorly developed lungs, proving that she was alive prior to half bleeding, half suffocating to death. I would love to say that my disgust and angst was towards the fact that this baby was aborted (I’m an opponent of the act); however, when reading this story, that was not the case.

My issue was not the fact that this young lady went to get an abortion. Although I disagree with abortion, to think that it does not happen is tantamount to burying my head in the sand. Nor was my issue the fact that this young lady was not properly counseled prior to being medicated for dilation (generally, abortion is only deemed safe if the mother is at 6 weeks or less gestation).

The idea that a little child could be born alive and treated with such contempt and disregard is what makes me sick to my stomach. The fact that this CHILD was “knocked onto the floor” and “allowed to bleed out” is what makes me nauseous.

Sure, the doctor made a mistake. No matter how much I hate it, his legal job was to abort the UNBORN child, not kill the little girl who had entered the world on her own, albeit prematurely. My heart goes out to a child who, quite possibly, only took one breath before it was brutally taken away. She did not have the opportunity to smile for the first time. Her privilege to see, taste, hear, touch and smell was stolen from her. Perhaps the first thing she saw was her mother’s afterbirth assaulting her body, and the first thing she heard was the deafening crinkle of the plastic bag that bound her little body up and threw her away like the daily trash.

I’m so glad she was not old enough to think for herself. If she could have, I’m sure her first thought would have been, “What did I do wrong?”

That, alone, is enough to make anyone sick to their stomach.

God bless!

~ Harriet

Harriet is a hilariously joyful married woman who resides in northeast Louisiana with her husband who is a restaurant manager. She works for a local University and along with her husband is the proud parent of a 3 year old son and a 10 year old stepson (who lives in NC).

About the author

Lamar and Ronnie Tyler are the creators of the award-winning blog BlackandMarriedWithKids.com . They also are behind the Amazon.com bestselling DVDs Happily Ever After: A Positive Image of Black Marriage, You Saved Me and Men Ain’t Boys that explores manhood in the African American community. The Tylers are also the proud parents of four children.

http://dejanae411.blogspot.com DEJ

That’s just crazy
smh

DEJs last blog post..wait. what?
MissJay

That is sad beyond words.
Jonesi

This is a sick and very sad occurence. But you know, abortion is a very touchy subject for me personally because though I have never been pregnant, I know people who have gotten this procedure done and I struggle with how I feel about it. I wonder why I am not as angry by their choice as I’m told I should be. I think about all the little children in orphanages who live very awful lives as adolescents who later are dumped into society at age 18 with no real support to become responsible, functioning citizens.
I think what angers me is all the people who are outraged to the core by abortions yet do nothing to alleviate or eradicate the issues. I just think if you’re that against a woman’s choice to abort, than are you willing to adopt a child? I am not for abortion just pro-choice because I don’t feel it is my place nor the government’s to tell a woman what to do with her body, especially when I have no part in the ultimate decison….other than my personal opinion.
I just feel people should spend less time putting grusome bilboards up, wasting money on advertisements, and use that same energy and funds to actually go into organages and make a difference. Support people who are SUITABLE to raise children….focus on getting help for these kids and doing something for these teens and young adults who think it’s cute to get pregnant…God will deal with each of us individually…
Harriet

Jonesi,

I hear what you’re saying, and it makes a lot of sense. The tenor of the article was discussing how this baby was treated AFTER being born.

No, I am not for abortion. I disagree with it totally; however, I realize that it does happen. Yet where do we draw the line? A child took her first breath, but was still murdered. She had been born! She wasn’t aborted, she was killed.

I certainly am not one to get caught up in the weeds of the abortion debate. I can’t make someone agree with what my viewpoint on the matter is. But I think that the owner of the abortion clinic, upon seeing a LIVE baby, should be liable for second degree murder because they did not abort that fetus, they killed that child.

The irony of that last statement is that both are the same thing to me. However, I do realize that many make their living off abortion, and like it or not, it’s legal. But what is NOT legal, nor tolerable to me, is the brutal manner in which a living, BREATHING being was treated.

I don’t know that life would have been great for “Shanice” (what the potential mother named her after the fact) if she had been placed in the care of the foster system or not. Yet she still deserved the right, by reason of life and breath, to be given the opportunity to live.
Jonesi

@Harriet,
My comment in no way was based soley on this incident. As I stated earlier, this was indeed deplorable to say the least and whoever took it upon themselves to take the life of this child should be held liable. What I wonder is if the mother knew the child was alive when murdered -aborted does not fit in this instance- but honestly some people say once a child is conceived, they are in fact alive and abortion is murder regardless of how you look at it. I don’t know but this late term abortion stuff really boggles my mind because my yooungest sister was born 3 months early, was less than 2lbs and she is completely healthy. Like I said before I am not for abortion but I just feel it is a personal choice. Like you, I don’t waste time debating because it is between God and the individual. I guess I am sensitive to the subject because I know women first-hand who have had the procedure done and I know someone who used it as a form of birth-control….but I am sad for baby Shanice that her short life ended so heinously
Harriet

@ Jonesi,

From what I read, the mother did come face to face with a live baby, but before she had the chance to hold the child, the owner of the clinic came and knocked her to the floor. The mother is the one who named the child Shanice.

I don’t judge my friends who have had abortions…but it’s difficult for me to listen to them tell me how there are times when they are haunted by the cries of a baby that’s not there. Yes, it’s a legal option, but the psychological and physiological effects (there’s a direct correlation between ovarian, uterine and breast cancer among women who have had abortions) far outweigh the “convenience” of not having a baby.

Although I do not condemn those who have chosen to go that route, nor those who have been the means by which a woman gets an abortion, I think these issues have to be looked at and presented in a balanced way.

Some crazy folks take it all the way to the right and say that birth control is just as heinous. That’s some bull. Then there are those who take it way to the left and say that even an underage girl has the right to get an abortion without her parent’s knowledge…that’s some bull.

It’s just an issue that I hate exists at all. No judgement, just grief and mourning. Because I’ll be honest…I don’t have the means to take care of a child whose parent either cannot or does not want to raise.

It’s not an easy topic…for Friday, I’m going to keep it light for that very reason. I just can’t stop shaking my head about this.
Jonesi

Well said and I agree to the fullest…the reality is, abortion has always existed. Our country has just found a way to capitalize on it…and probably are saving the lives of women who would take it upon themselves to do it anyway (as in the past).
Harriet

Even that’s arguable, though. The health risks of abortion are far greater than smoking or even obesity. It’s kind of like a “pay now or pay later” thing.

While I agree that lives are being preserved as a result of our medical technology, even that was arguable a couple of years ago when doctors were prescribing that abortion pill that gave countless women toxic shock and blood poisoning. Hundreds died as a result of that.

Although in days like this it’s unrealistic to think that everyone would be willing to abstain from sex until they get married, it’s still the most ideal lifestyle to prevent such an epidemic like abortion.

Then again, so would castrating pedophiles, but that’s another beast all together. LOL
Anna

This story does hurt to read. I hope the young woman sought theraphy. She never got a chance to get use to the idea of being pregnant(she went to the doctors because she was ill and found out she was 6 months pregnant) thus having her make a quick decision to abort. I can’t imagine how desperate she must have felt not to have anyone to talk to but instead choose to terminate the pregnancy. I am glad that this story as horrif as it is got noticed because this gives parents a chance to talk more with their children so they never have to face anything alone. This young woman is now 21 and has a pending law suit. This is America and it was not a back alley that she chose to end her pregnancy. The doctor who was not present when this happened lost his license but it’s my understanding that he only lost it because his staff were unlicensed. A funeral may have already taken place 27 months after the murder.
Harriet

@ anna,

“I am glad that this story as horrif as it is got noticed because this gives parents a chance to talk more with their children so they never have to face anything alone.”

That’s so true! I was watching a Cosby Show episode where one of Denise’s friends wanted Dr. Huxtable to check her out without her parents knowing about it. It concerned him enough to sit all his older kids down and talk with them about being able to come to them about anything, no matter how angry or hurt they think he and his wife would get.

I think this provides great fodder for a “family meeting” among teenagers and their parents. Shoot, pre-teens and their paretns, too.
King James

You just messed up my morning.
Thanks!
Sasha

I agree that this story is extremely sad, but what is even more sad is that this girl was 6 MONTHS PREGNANT and DIDN’T HAVE A CLUE?!! Obviously no one had ever taught her/told her/educated her on what was going on with her body in any way whatsoever.

Another ridiculous aside: the doctor was not present for the actual delivery, but did arrive a bit later, and was trying to find the fetus inside of the girl after it was already gone. Now, what kind of doctor can’t figure that out? That is the reason they are trying to take his license: they had a meeting to decide whether to discipline him, and then when he told them more about what happened, they started questioning him about what types of instruments he uses, etc… and found him to be extremely lacking.

I love what you said, Jonesi about spending all of those millions that are being used for anti abortion campaigns on helping the kids that are already here and making their lives better. I also think that money should be spent on teaching kids about their bodies, so that you don’t have any more 6 month pregnant girls not having a clue that they are pregnant.

I think the large amount of abortions being done is more of a symptom of the ills of our culture than the actual problem itself.

Thank you for this article.
http://stellarsassysocial.blogspot.com/ elle denise

Dear God…

elle denises last blog post..Spring Break Shopping Party @ FRESH Boutique!
Harriet

@ KJ…my bad. I promise it will be better on Friday

@ Sasha…GREAT points, all of them! The only thing I could think of was that this young lady had never had a regular period, or she had low body fat thus suffering from amenorrhea (no period for prolonged amounts of time). Without that being the cause, for her to be 18 years old and not know speaks to either a physiological irregularity or a mental deficiency. Either way, it’s only symptomatic of a larger problem like you said.

IDK…a friend of mine I went to school with was on the basketball team and everything, and she didn’t find out she was preggers until she was six months into it. She had a perfectly healthy baby, but she kept playing ball the whole time she was pregnant. AMAZING what the human female body can withstand.

Then it makes me wonder at the aversion many people in my demographic have towards going to see doctors. What would have happened if she had allowed a cancer to sit that long before going to see someone?

It’s just sad all around. We’ve got to make a change in terms of the way we treat our bodies AND our babies.
http://politicalmusic.wordpress.com Political Pete

You Harriet. Have you seen Revolutionary Road?

Political Petes last blog post..Naturally 7: One of the Most Talented Groups Ever
Anna

@ Sasha, you did make great points as Harriet mentioned. Not all women have regular cycles. You can have regular ones and still never know you are pregnant. Grown women have went to the hospital with abdominal pain and deliverd a healty baby. Girls who have not had their first period can still get pregnant.
Harriet

@ Pete,

No I haven’t. Where can I watch it (since you have the online movie hook up)? I googled it, but the summary I read on imdb.com doesn’t relate to the topic at hand. You can spoil it for me if you’d like. How does it relate?
http://politicalmusic.wordpress.com Political Pete

LOL. I think they have done a pretty good sweep of the movies nominated for Oscars for this week, but they will be streaming on ovguide.com right after…(or the links of the sites they have…I like the watch.movies.net site (or something like that).

It does relate to it… I can’t spoil it for you.
Harriet

i found it…i’m not the movie aficionado like you. i could care less about the oscars. ROFL. but i’m going to watch it right now. thanks!
http://politicalmusic.wordpress.com Political Pete

On a sidenote, LEO should have been nominated. I think the academy is just tired of him since Titanic. lol. You will see what I’m talking about at the end.

Political Petes last blog post..Naturally 7: One of the Most Talented Groups Ever
Harriet

yeah, as much as i don’t like dicaprio’s roles, he plays them well. i’ve got to admit it.
Harriet

@ pete…well acted, but a bit too dark for my tastes. i see what you were talking about, though. to be honest, i wish i never had. these types of issues disturb me to the core.
http://politicalmusic.wordpress.com Political Pete

Yeah good movie. Dark ending. Definitely Oscar worthy

Political Petes last blog post..Naturally 7: One of the Most Talented Groups Ever
Harriet

yeah…powerful acting, for real. i like how the son of the real estate agent was mixed into that whole fiasco. he brought the real, didn’t he?

so when are you hooking up with ebert and roper, pete? it’s time for you to get paid to watch all these movies.
MissJay

I agree with Sasha and Jonesi’s comments. I too know someone who’s used abortion as a form of birth control. I also think that something should be done for the people who are already here and more should be done to teach about safe sex and ways to prevent a pregnancy than ways to speak out against abortion. There would be no need for abortion if everyone was doing what they can to prevent pregnancies. This is disturbing.
fd kenny

the story is sad also i had an abortion and up till now am still feeling there is a child inside my womb i regret doing it! now i dint support aborting anymore cos am feeling like a mother up till now