Abortion Survivor Sarah Smith

Twins

Pictured here are Sarah Smith and her mother Betty. In 1970, Betty tried to abort Sarah in Los Angeles. At the time, Betty did not know she was pregnant with twins. One baby was aborted, but miraculously, Sarah survived. Sarah has forgiven her mother — and for five years they traveled the world speaking together about the pain and suffering caused by abortion. Below is Sarah’s story, followed by the speech she gave in Rome in 1996.

Powerful Video Offered: At the end of this article are details about how you can receive a copy of a video that tells Sarah’s amazing story.

– one aborted, one survives!

Sarah tells her story . . .

“Twenty-nine years ago, my mother decided to have an abortion. At the time, she was pregnant with twins, but nobody knew this, not even her doctor. My tiny brother and I were both there growing in her womb, until that dreadful day. Before the abortion, we were both alive. Moments later, I was alone. It’s frightening to think I was almost aborted when my mom had a D&C abortion. Somehow, miraculously, I survived! My twin brother wasn’t so lucky. Andrew was aborted and we lost him forever. Several weeks later, my mother was shocked to feel me kicking in her womb. She already had five children and she knew what it felt like when a baby kicked in the womb. She instantly knew that somehow she was still pregnant. She went back to the doctor and told him she was still pregnant…that she had made a big mistake and that she wanted to keep this baby. To this day, my mother deeply regrets that abortion. I know the pain is unbearable for her at times when she looks at me and knows she aborted my twin brother. Mom says ‘the protective hand of Almighty God saved my life . . . that God’s hand covered and hid me in her womb, and protected me from the scalpel of death. After surviving the abortion, I was born with bilateral, congenital dislocated hips and many other physical handicaps. Nine days after I was born, I was taken to an orthopedic surgeon who applied a cast to each of my tiny legs. My mom would remove these casts with pliers every Monday morning and take me to the doctor to have new casts put on. At six weeks I was put into my first body cast. Many surgeries and body cast followed over the next few years. Unfortunately, doctors are telling me that now I’ll need surgeries about every 5 years (please pray for me). Today, I thank God I survived the abortion, but the pain continues for everyone in my family. In memory of my brother Andrew, we bought a memorial gravestone and placed it in a cemetary in Southern California. It reads: ANDREW JAMES SMITH, TWIN BROTHER OF SARAH — IN OUR HEARTS YOU’LL ALWAYS BE ALIVE — NOVEMBER 1970 Please share our story with others so the tragedy of abortion stops hurting babies and families. Everyone needs to know the truth about abortion. Thank you.” –Sarah Smith Sarah can help you save babies! Order Sarah’s Powerful Video . . . After surviving her mother’s abortion in 1970, Sarah Smith has become one of the most powerful pro-life voices in the battle against abortion. Sarah’s stirring testimony touches hearts, changes minds and saves lives. Sarah wants to help you make a difference in your community. Please order Sarah’s video today and share it with people at churches, schools, rallies and conferences in your community. This powerful 10-minute documentary was produced by the 700 Club — and it’s one you’ll never forget. You’ll see Sarah as a baby crawling in a body-cast, then as a teenager and later as a dynamic public speaker who travels the world exposing the pain and suffering caused by abortion. When you see Sarah, you’re seeing the face of a beautiful woman who would not be alive today if the abortionist had completed his “job.”   Sarah Meeting Pope John Paul II in April 1996 in Rome. Sarah’s Video - Here’s How to Order: Call Heritage House toll-free at 1-800-858-3040 and mention Pro-Life America’s web site. For another article on Sarah Smith & other abortion survivors, click here. Sarah’s Speech In Rome On April 24, 1996, Sarah Smith gave the following speech at an international pro-life conference in Rome. The conference was called, “A Congress for Life.” It was organized to celebrate the first anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s encyclical letter Evangelium Vitae - The Gospel of Life. The conference was held at the Legionaries of Christ seminary in Rome and was attended by approximately 500 men and women including; pro-life leaders, political leaders, media representatives, priests and seminarians. Following is the speech given by Sarah Smith: “My name is Sarah Smith and I wish to thank you all, your eminencies, and all of the wonderful Legionaries of Christ for allowing us to be with you today. I did not know of the abortion until I was 12 years old. I grew up feeling that I was the same as my friends, except for having numerous surgeries and physical complications. The only difference I felt was an incredible loneliness and a knowledge that something was missing. I never felt whole. I battled with severe depression and found myself dying of anorexia nervosa at age 12, when my mother knew it was time to tell me the truth. She sat next to me and took my hand and looked me in the eyes and said, “Sarah, you are a twin. I aborted your twin brother and tried to abort you. Please know I did not know what I was doing and I pray someday you are able to forgive me. I love you and need you to know that you are a welcome part of our family.” At that moment I knew what I had been missing all my life and that I was called to something much greater than I had knowledge of. Immediately I felt the overwhelming pain of the knowledge that I should be dead. As I stand before you today I am painfully aware that this is only possible because my twin brother took a scalpel for me, and I stand in his place and memory, giving him honor and a face. We have become bombarded with statistics in our fight for life. Thirty-two million babies are killed in the United States alone. Yet every one had a face, a life, a creator who loved them and created them in His image. As you look at me today, you realize that I am no different than you, yet I stand before you today a representative of the dead — a representative of the innocent lives who today may lose their lives. Who will speak for them? The words of Christ are clear - “What you have done to the least of these you have done unto me.” You and I are called and commissioned to care for these little ones just as we would care for Jesus Himself. To walk away and say this is not my problem is to walk away from Jesus Himself. Many people upon finding out about the abortion ask me how did I feel, or to what can I compare this to. The only thing I can compare my life to is that of an innocent Jew being made to walk down the streets of Germany naked in front of many people and into a room he knows he will never come out of. In my case, unfortunately, the people leading me into that room are my mother and father. Yet the people looking on at the sidelines are people like you. And I ask you today, will you speak up or will you silently look away as another person who needs your help is led to their death? I have forgiven my parents long ago as I remember the words Jesus spoke as he hung bleeding and bruised from the cross, “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.” His words pertain to the sins of abortion. Most men and women who involve themselves with abortion don’t know what they’re doing, as were my parents. Many women who demand the right to an abortion say, “It’s my body, it’s my choice.” Let me make one thing very clear to you today - my mother’s choice was my death sentence. It is not only a woman’s body we are discussing in an abortion. It is the entire flesh and blood of someone just like me. Then we have the issue of medical personnel stating it is just tissue. For anyone who has ever studied biology, you know better. Before any woman even knows she is pregnant her child already has a beating heart at 20 days. Show me one piece of tissue or cancer you believe must be cut out with a beating heart. Show me a liver or kidney that has it’s own blood type. That child is perfect from it’s first day. All it needs is time, oxygen and nutrition. Another startling fact is that in medical journals it states the fetus is capable of feeling pain at 8 weeks of gestation. In America, the vast majority of abortions are performed between 10 to 12 weeks, well after the child can feel the entire procedure. So don’t tell me abortion is a simple procedure that expels a piece of tissue and doesn’t hurt anybody. I was there. I was less then an inch away from my innocent twin brother when his body was ripped apart, and he felt the entire thing. We were 14 to 16 weeks along in the second trimester. That was how my life was meant to end. Yet I was spared to stand before you today and tell you on behalf of those who have no voice that if you remain silent, in my country alone a person just like you and me will die every 20 seconds of every day. We have been commissioned by Jesus to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves and we have also been commissioned by the Holy Father, who I had the privilege of meeting a few hours ago. As I told him my story he looked at me so intensely as if to say, “Speak the message! Proclaim the Truth!” And then he kissed me and gave me a blessing to go and speak about life. And that is what he says to all of you as he blesses and kisses us with his Encyclical. Preach the gospel - the good news of life. What is the greatest gift of all? When Jesus outstretched His arms and said, “This is my body given up for you”. Imagine if Jesus had been selfish with His body and not given so freely of His life to you and me. Where would we be today? We would be nothing. The gift of a mother’s body for 9 months of her life is one of the most beautiful gifts of all time. We must fight to protect it. As I stand here alone knowing I have my brother as a precious guardian angel who is with me always, I know my life is a gift. And today I wish to give it back to you, the people and to the church, as a symbol of the consuming power of God’s redemption and of His life and truth. You and I as a church represent life, and together we will extend that life into a hurting and dying world. We will give them the truth of life and we shall never be silent. I love you and God bless you.” For another article on Sarah Smith & other abortion survivors, click here.

Well, let’s be honest. While her determination is meant to be inspiring, Speaker Pelosi’s doggedness is actually on behalf of the abortion lobby. And that’s troubling for the vast majority of Americans who don’t want to see public funds bankrolling abortion. I make this commitment to you: we will match Ms. Pelosi’s determination every step of the way — whether we need pole vaults or parachutes.

While the news may have shifted elsewhere for now, I want to assure you that we are keeping a close eye on Capitol Hill. We will keep you informed as the health care battle continues.

In the meantime, we can be encouraged because we are making progress in states across our nation this week. Our Americans United for Life legal team is working in 20 states right now to advance pro-life measures including ultrasound requirements for abortion, rights of conscience protections, parental involvement laws, protection for unborn victims of violence, and limits on biotechnologies.

The Commonwealth of Virginia is a good example.

Denise Burke, a senior AUL attorney, presented written testimony in both the Virginia House and Senate opposing legislation filed at the instigation of NARAL Pro-Choice America (the group formerly known as the “National Abortion Rights Action League.”) This insidious legislation was written to rob Crisis Pregnancy Centers of precious financial resources by shutting down the popular and voluntary “Choose Life” license plate program. Denise testified that several provisions of the legislation are unconstitutional. Committees in both chambers refused to advance the bills, effectively killing them.

This is a clear win for life, and this weekend’s much-anticipated Super Bowl gives us another reason to take heart.  

Last week, I asked you to join me in supporting Focus on the Family as they prepare to air a Super Bowl commercial about the incredible story of college football superstar Tim Tebow. In partnership with LifeNews.com, we started a Facebook page called “Support Tebow’s Superbowl Ad” and the outpouring has been unbelievable. More than 125,000 people have joined this cause online and more are joining every day.

CBS has responsibly agreed to air the ad, and even the Washington Post and the New York Times have published pieces critical of groups like the National Organization for Women for their extremism and intolerance on this issue. The Tebow ad, which encourages a culture of life, is one I cannot wait to see.  America is an overwhelmingly pro-life nation, and every day we are advancing the cause.

Thank you for all that you do for life.

For Life,        

Fetal Development

This remarkable photograph of a tiny fetus in its unruptured amniotic sac was taken after surgery for an ectopic pregnancy in 1972. This picture demonstrates the development of a baby at only six weeks after conception.
Photograph by University of Minnesota Medical Photographer, Robert Wolfe.

Week 2

 The picture on the left is a fertilized egg only thirty hours after conception. Magnified here, it is no larger than the head of a pin. Still rapidly dividing, the developing embryo, called a zygote at this stage, floats down from the fallopian tube and towards the uterus. 

Week 3

At this point, the blastocyst, or developing embryo, is looking for a spot to implant in the uterus. Early formation of the central nervous system, backbone, and spinal column has begun. The gastrointestinal system has also begun to develop with the kidneys, liver, and intestines forming. The heart has begun to form.

Week 4

Hormones produced by the embryo stop the mother’s menstrual cycle.

Week 5

The embryo’s tiny heart begins to beat by day twenty-one. The brain has developed into 5 areas and some cranial nerves are visible. Arm and leg buds are visible and the formation of the eyes, lips, and nose has begun. The spinal cord grows faster than the rest of the body giving a tail like appearance which disappears as the embryo continues to grow. The placenta begins to provide nourishment for the embryo.

Week 7

Major organs have all begun to form. The embryo has developed its own blood type, unique from the mother’s. Hair follicles and nipples form and knees and elbows are visible. Facial features are also observable. The eyes have a retina and lens. The major muscle system is developed and the embryo is able to move.

Week 8

The embryo is reactive to its environment inside the amniotic sac where it swims and moves. Hands and feet can be seen. At the end of week 8, the embryonic period is over and the fetal stage begins.

Weeks 9-12

The heart is almost completely developed and the heart rate can be heard on a Doppler machine at the doctor’s office. Most major organs and tissues have developed and red blood cells are now produced in the liver. The face is well formed and the eyes are almost fully developed. The eyelids will close and not reopen until the 28^th week. Arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, and toes are fully formed. Nails and earlobes start to form and tooth buds develop in the gums. Fetus can make a fist with its finger. Testosterone (male sex hormone) is produced by the testes in male fetus.

Second Trimester

Fetal Development

18 weeks gestation (16 weeks since conception)“Life is present from the moment of conception.”
Dr. Jerome Lejeune, late professor and world renowned geneticist, University of Descarte, Paris“A person’s a person, no matter how small!”
Excerpted from “Horton Hears a Who,” by Dr. Seuss, late famous children’s author

  Weeks 13-16

The brain is fully developed and the fetus can suck, swallow, and make irregular breathing sounds. Fetus can feel pain (New England Journal of Medicine). Fetal skin is almost transparent. Muscles tissue is lengthening and bones are becoming harder. Liver and organs produce appropriate fluids. Eyebrows and eyelashes appear and the fetus makes active movements including kicks and even somersaults.

Week 20

“Quickening” (when the mother can feel the fetus moving) usually occurs around this time. Finger and toenails appear. Lanugo, a fine hair now covers the entire body. The fetus can hear and recognize the mother’s voice. Sex organs are visible on ultrasound devices.

Third Trimester

Fetal Development

Week 24

A protective waxy substance called Vernix covers the skin. By birth, most of the Vernix will be gone but any that is left is quickly absorbed. Fetus has a hand and startle reflex. Footprints and fingerprints are forming. Fetus practices breathing by inhaling amniotic fluid into its developing lungs.

Weeks 25 - 28

Rapid brain development occurs during this period and the nervous system is able to control some bodily functions. The fetus’ eyelids now open and close. At 25 weeks there is a 60% chance of survival if born. The fetus is considered legally viable at 28 weeks and there is a 90% chance of survival if born at this point.

Weeks 29 - 32

There is a rapid increase in the amount of body fat the fetus has. Rhythmic breathing occurs, but the lungs are not yet mature. The fetus sleeps 90-95% of the day. At this point there the survival rate is above 95% if the baby is born.

Weeks 38 - 40

The fetus is considered full-term. Lanugo is gone except on upper arms and shoulders. Hair on the baby’s head is now coarser and thicker. The lungs are mature. The average weight of the baby at this point is seven and a half pounds. At birth the placenta detaches from the uterus and the umbilical cord will be cut as the baby takes his first breaths of air. Breathing will trigger changes in the heart and bypass arteries forcing all blood to now travel through the lungs.

About the Photos

Many of the amazing pictures shown here were taken from the very excellent Nine Month Miracle CD ROM, by A.D.A.M. Software, Inc., the book A Child Is Born by the famous Swedish photographer Lennart Nilsson, and the handbook When You were Formed in Secret, by Gary Bergel. Complete references are listed below. More about how these photos were taken. Photos appearing on this web site are reproduced under “fair use” terms for the purpose of public education. For permission to use these photos for commercial purposes, please contact the sources indicated below.

Sources

§  Nine Month Miracle (CD ROM software), A.D.A.M. Software, Inc., 1600 RiverEdge Parkway, Suite 800, Atlanta, GA, 30328.

§  The First Nine Months of Life, (brochure) Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO, 1995.

§  Medline Plus, a service of U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institute for Health

§  Wellness Center
Fetal Development Pages

§  Pain and its Effects in the Human Neonate and Fetus, THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE, Volume 317, Number 21: Pages 1321-1329, 19 November 1987.

§  Pediatricweb.com: Pre-Term Birth Information

Recommended Books, Videos and Software

§  A Child Is Born by Lennart Nilsson (also in paperback). The pictures are truly amazing (if you are pregnant or even thinking about getting pregnant, you must see this book!).

§  Nova: The Miracle of Life includes a detailed account of how a baby is formed, from conception to birth, complete with prenatal footage. Order from Amazon.com.

§  Nine Month Miracle, A.D.A.M. Software, Inc.: Join Adam & Eve as they experience life’s greatest miracles - the birth of their child. Nine Month Miracle is a wonderful way for the entire family to learn about conception, childbirth and everything in between.

§  Or visit our bookstore for more recommended educational materials

Related Links

§  Prenatal Testing

§  Basic Embryology Review Program University of Pennsylvania

§  Human Development Ohio Right to Life

§  Infant Development Stages of Life

§  NOVA Morphing Embryos

§  DiscoveryHealth Pregnancy Videos

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

 ¹ O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
 ² You know my sitting down and my rising up;
         You understand my thought afar off.
 ³ You comprehend my path and my lying down,
         And are acquainted with all my ways.
 ⁴ For there is not a word on my tongue,
         But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
 ⁵ You have hedged me behind and before,
         And laid Your hand upon me.
 ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
         It is high, I cannot attain it.
         
 ⁷ Where can I go from Your Spirit?
         Or where can I flee from Your presence?
 ⁸ If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
         If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
 ⁹ If I take the wings of the morning,
         And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
 ¹⁰ Even there Your hand shall lead me,
         And Your right hand shall hold me.
 ¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”
         Even the night shall be light about me;
 ¹² Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
         But the night shines as the day;
         The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
         
 ¹³ For You formed my inward parts;
         You covered me in my mother’s womb.
 ¹⁴ I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
         Marvelous are Your works,
         And that my soul knows very well.
 ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You,
         When I was made in secret,
         And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
 ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
         And in Your book they all were written,
         The days fashioned for me,
         When as yet there were none of them.
         
 ¹⁷ How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
         How great is the sum of them!
 ¹⁸ If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
         When I awake, I am still with You.
         
 ¹⁹ Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!
         Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.
 ²⁰ For they speak against You wickedly;
         Your enemies take Your name in vain.
 ²¹ Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You?
         And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
 ²² I hate them with perfect hatred;
         I count them my enemies.
         
 ²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;
         Try me, and know my anxieties;
 ²⁴ And see if there is any wicked way in me,
         And lead me in the way everlasting.