The abortion clinic had one appointment Friday morning. Sometimes we’re tempted to say “only” one appointment–only one death–but we guard ourselves against this sort of pragmatic calculation. On Saturday morning there were five, most of them quite indifferent to our presence or our words. Two of the Guadalupe Partners left a little early Friday morning. They went to Hetzel Hospital, where Anna had just had her baby. The father was there in the delivery room, looking proud and happy. That was the first time a father has been a real part of the birth and delivery. When we finished at the abortuary Saturday, we went to Anna’s house with a delivery of a crib and other baby items.
We visited another mom on Saturday, one who , happily, is still pregnant. When she went to the abortion clinic, the abortionist told her that she was 20 weeks pregnant and that the abortion would be a two day procedure. He sent her to another abortionist to have laminaria inserted; during that procedure, however, the mother, in pain, yelled at the abortionist to stop. He did so and she left, but later developed an infection and had to go to the hospital. There, after an ultrasound, she was told she was only 17 weeks pregnant. She then called us to tell her story and ask about filing a lawsuit against the abortionist. When we visited her, she assured us she was going to keep her baby, even tough her husband is muttering threats against her.
One of the Partners took J., the deaf young woman, in for her second appointment. The physician wants to do a scan, but not until the baby is born.
The kidneys of Y.’s baby, Jeris, shut down. For three days his life was maintained solely by the respirator. Yesterday the family removed the respirator and Jeris died within four minutes. We were able to get to the hospital and visit with Jeris and his family before he was taken to the morgue. The hospital asked that the body be donated; then the mother briefly considered cremation; however, Guadalupe Partners will be paying all funeral expenses for Jeris. This baby will receive a burial worthy of his full human dignity.
