Perinatal Care Symposium

Perinatal Care Symposium – Caring for the pregnant mother and her preborn child

All are welcome!

Of particular interest to doctors, nurses, midwives and healthcare professionals

Register here

Patricia Sandoval at March for Life 2023

Patricia Sandoval – will speak about her Escape from Drugs, Homelessness, and the Back Doors of Planned Parenthood

Patricia came from a broken home, good and bad boyfriends, three abortions, a job at Planned Parenthood (where she was told never to reveal what she saw), followed by methamphetamine addiction and homelessness.

Patricia Sandoval’s life story is an unusually gripping, hard-to-put-down ride along a journey that leads to an extraordinary triumph of God’s mercy—the mercy that waits patiently for all of us.

The way that Jesus came to her in the streets will leave you breathless, as will the heights to which God has since carried her.

If you know of someone who believes they cannot be forgiven or return to Church, this is the book to give them. (Watch the video of reader comments below.) Read Transfigured. Be Transfigured.

Patricia now travels the world as a pro life speaker, sharing her story with millions in packed stadiums and on radio and television shows, such as EWTN’s Bookmark, Life on the Rock, Women of Grace, At Home with Jim and Joy; and in Spanish, on EWTN’s Cara a Cara, Nuestro Fe en Vivo, Ellas lo Dicen, De Dos en Dos—and now on her own show with Astrid Bennett Gutiérrez: Informe Provida

Christmas is the season for Joy, Love & Peace

Christmas, a beautiful season to spread joy, love, and peace!
The Joy of Giving is far more rewarding than receiving, especially when offering support to the vulnerable.
Help Lifeline Malta by using the Reverse Advent Calendar and filling a Baby Bag for our little ones.
You can fill it alone, within your family unit, or even together with your workmates.

Mother who adopted baby with Down’s syndrome shares her inspiring story

Mother who adopted baby with Down’s syndrome shares her inspiring story

A mother who adopted a child with Down’s syndrome has shared her inspiring story.

The anonymous mother, who adopted Harry, shared her adoption story with the Metro, as part of their ‘Adoption Month’ news coverage. 

After struggles with infertility and a miscarriage, the mum decided she wanted to adopt, and was approved to adopt a child aged three or older. 

After several months in the process, she was given Harry’s profile.

“I asked specifically for a child with Down’s syndrome and the very next day, I received Harry’s details.”

Harry was a dream from day one

When the mother received Harry’s details, he was just four months old. 

Despite being only approved to adopt a child aged three or over, her unique experience meant that the adoption agency made an exception and allowed her to adopt Harry.

The mum had grown up in a family where disability was not uncommon. 

“To me, disability isn’t something unusual – it’s just a part of life. My little sister has Down’s syndrome and is just a few years younger than me, and I also have other disabled family members.”

In July 2016, after six months of paperwork, she finally got to take him home. “Harry was a dream from day one,” she said.

“My family were overjoyed when I adopted Harry.”

There were challenges of course: “When he was young, he used to often be sick at night, all over the bed, due to reflux issues. Cleaning up the vomit for the millionth time is the only time I thought to myself ‘I can’t do this’ – but you just have to grin and bear it.

“That’s what being a parent is at times!

“He is so bright and super sociable. We both love being outdoors and often walk around the lake near our house or visit animals at the nearby farm.

“To me, Harry is just a boy. Some days, I completely forget that he has Down’s syndrome.”

I’m now looking at adopting a second child

Children born with Down’s syndrome are often hard to place. “There are so many kids out there who need a home. I would absolutely encourage people to adopt a disabled child, as they can be the hardest to place but have so much love to give.”

“I’m now looking at adopting a second child, perhaps one with Down’s syndrome – but I am keeping an open mind. Fingers crossed, Harry will have another sibling next year.”

Scale of Down’s syndrome abortions

Sadly, this inspiring story takes place against the backdrop of 3,183 disability selective abortions across England & Wales in just 2019, with 656 of those occurring following a prenatal diagnosis of Down’s syndrome.

At the same time, a recent report revealed that pregnant mothers who refuse to abort their children with Down’s syndrome are being pressured by some medical professionals to change their decision.

One mother, whose child is now four-years-old, said medical professionals told her they could leave her baby with Down’s syndrome to die if it was struggling after birth.

Another mum recounted that even at 38 weeks pregnant she was being offered an abortion.

Right to Life UK spokesperson Catherine Robinson said, “Unfortunately there is so much stigma surrounding Down’s syndrome and more inspiring stories like this one need to be heard. But there is hope. The High Court in London will soon hear a landmark case against the UK Government over the country’s discriminatory abortion legislation, which singles out babies with disabilities by allowing terminations right through to birth for conditions including Down’s syndrome, cleft lip and club foot.”

“This young mum’s story is just one example of the positive impact that the Down’s syndrome and disability communities have across the United Kingdom. In 2019, 656 babies were aborted due to a prenatal diagnosis of Down’s syndrome. Every one of those lives lost represents a failure of our society to embrace those with disabilities inside and outside the womb.”

 

This is www.righttolife.org.uk opinion piece

Ref: https://righttolife.org.uk/news/mother-who-adopted-baby-with-downs-syndrome-shares-her-inspiring-story/ 

  

It is a myth that teenagers and young adults support abortion

It is a myth that teenagers and young adults support abortion

In a survey that took place a few months ago, it was stated that the generation which is most predisposed to support abortion is the younger generation, specifically composed of millennials (loosely defined as those born between 1980 and 2000) and Generation Z (those born after 2000).

As people from both these generations, we write in unwavering support of a consistent pro-life ethic. We aim to challenge the myth that it is somehow obvious or unsurprising that teenagers and young adults support the pro-abortion position. Motivated by compassion, our position on this matter is that a society is only as humane and liberal as the extent to which it values all human life, whatever its stage, state or condition.

We sincerely believe that life is a gift to be lived, treasured and enjoyed. This being stated, the enjoyment of our own lives does not absolve us from accompanying and helping those who are burdened with hardship. On the contrary, it is in communion with those who suffer that true joy begins. To paraphrase the poetess Emily Dickinson, if we can ease one life the aching, we shall not live in vain.

However severe, hardship does not diminish the value of human life. Rather, it offers opportunities for a person to mature and become more sensitive to suffering humanity.

Building on this, we hold that the first and greatest fundamental right is the right to life. One need not be some eminent jurist to understand that unless one’s right to life is respected all other rights are meaningless. There must be equality in the enjoyment of the right to life. The taking of human life prior to birth, for whatever reason, is an egregious example of inequality and injustice. It unjustly discriminates against those of us still to be born.

We hold dear all expectant mothers in difficult situations and address them directly: your silent cries for help are heard

Human beings are naturally averse to the taking of life. However, in such situations, some frequently reason that abortion may be a necessary evil. We propose a bolder stand.

To choose to kill a child, born or yet to be born, is never an option. Statistics demonstrate that most of those who seek abortion do so because they are bereft of support and friendship. It is this lack of support that may lead a person to conclude that abortion is the only solution to an unplanned pregnancy.

We are the builders of the new, compassionate society. We hold that life itself has intrinsic and inestimable value. It is this core belief that motivates each of us to offer moral and material support to anyone who may be going through a tough time, be it due to unplanned pregnancy or some other situation.

As young professionals in various sectors and as students aspiring to contribute to society, we are committed to being points of light and beacons of hope. We reject the throwaway culture that mars our world as short-sighted and irresponsible. Most of us have direct, personal experience of caring for and accompanying people in need. We believe that children, whether born or yet to be born, deserve equal loving care.

This firm belief leads us to use our personal, professional and academic lives not just for our own advancement but for the betterment of others, particularly the most vulnerable. This is the only way of life that can defeat the throwaway culture of which abortion forms part.

Abortion is not defeated through legislation or debate. It is defeated through love. Specifically, it is defeated through love, concretely expressed. We do not accept that an expectant mother in the most desperate of situations can and should be told that if she aborts her pregnancy all will be well. All will most decidedly not be well.

Those peddling abortion in our country would have us believe that if a desperate mother is sent on an expenses-paid trip to a foreign abortion facility all will be well. This is a falsehood.

We hold dear all expectant mothers in difficult situations and address them directly: your silent cries for help are heard.

Reach out. Do not let anyone tell you that death solves your problems. It does not. We stand ready to help. You and your child are loved, valuable and necessary. Your child is not a problem but a source of hope and joy.

Pro-life Millennials and Generation Z – Michaela Agius, Michelle Attard, Phyllisienne Bugeja, Ryan Paul Camilleri, Maria Formosa, Edward Grech, Javan Grech, Sara Portelli, Bradley Sammut, Nicole Marie Sladden, Rebecca Spiteri and Edelgail Zammit

 This is www.timesofmalta.com opinion piece

Ref: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/inestimable-and-intrinsic-worth-group-of-young-professionals-and.842637

Love Louder – Jeff and Jennifer Christie

Love Louder – Jeff and Jennifer Christie

If I had listened to you,

I wouldn’t have woken up this morning with five year old toes in my face.

There wouldn’t be light up Batman sneakers in the shoe rack,

or goldfish crackers swimming on the floor of our SUV.

If I had listened to you,

I wouldn’t know all the words to the Paw Patrol theme song,

or the names of the Bubble Guppies.

I wouldn’t have seen Frozen in the theater.

Twice.

I have a few more stretch marks,

A little less money,

less time,

and more fine lines around my eyes.

If I had listened to you,

I wouldn’t know the tug of little arms around my neck,

sticky hands tenderly patting my face,

random requests for mommy snuggles.

If I had listened to you,

the phrase “beauty for ashes” would be one dimensional,

healing would have been a slow, uphill climb,

and so much pain would have so much less purpose.

I have a little more patience,

and a little less pride,

less selfishness,

more faith in the Great I AM.

If I had listened to you,

to the world,

to the doubt and the fear,

I’d miss hearing a croaky morning voice tell me he misses me when he’s asleep.

But I didn’t listen to you.

I listened to love.

The heart of God,

the motion of mercy,

the song of grace,

the soul of the mother that I already was and was destined to be again.

Sounds of love, louder than the anxiety, drowning out the agony.

Louder.

I listened.

I followed.

And just look what I got.

Life with no regrets.

Jennifer Christie