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Abortion Survivor Speaks about the Value of Life and the Media's Response to Her Story

  • Veronica Neffinger

    Veronica Neffinger wrote her first poem at age seven and went on to study English in college, focusing on 18th century literature. When she is not listening to baseball games, enjoying the…

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  • Updated Mar 11, 2016

Abortion survivor and pro-life advocate Gianna Jessen said in an interview that though the media often ignores her, she wants everyone to know that all life is valuable.

Charisma News reports that Jessen testified before Congress last September, telling her story of surviving a saline abortion, in an effort to sway Congress to defund Planned Parenthood.

"This method of abortion burns the baby inside and out, blinding and suffocating the child, who is then born dead usually within 24 hours. This is what I survived. Instead of dying, after 18 hours of being burned in my mother's womb, I was delivered alive," Jessen told the House Judiciary Committee.

Because of the ordeal, Jessen was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. "I was never supposed to hold up my head or walk. I do. Cerebral palsy, ladies and gentlemen, is a tremendous gift to me,” said Jessen in her gentle manner.

Jessen said in the interview with MRC Culture that people often become defensive when discussing the issue of abortion and hearing that she is an abortion survivor, but, she says, she wants them to know that she is “Just bringing kindness and—and this feeling of 'I don't have to change you; it's just my job to present the truth to you.'"

When asked how the media often responds to her story, Jessen stated, "They just try to ignore me. Because I don't think they can really say anything to me—so their strategy has been, 'We're just gonna not talk to her pretty much at all. 

“But I still get around,” she added, smiling.

Jessen also spoke of the inherent value of human life. Pro-life also means “valuing your own life,” she said, and “valuing who you are.” 

She encouraged young women to recognize their worth and to live accordingly.

“I don't think girls can hear enough that they are made for epic love, not average love. And I think most girls think, 'Oh, well, that epic love doesn't really exist.' But I think the opposite is true. I think it does exist, and we settle for average. And we haven't heard all of our lives so often how beautiful we are,” she said.

Jessen said there is forgiveness for those who have been involved in abortion. She also said that she has forgiven her birth mother.

Photo courtesy: youtube.com

Publication date: March 11, 2016