At first glance, I would have jumped at the chance to advocate for every unborn life. But, upon further research, I found that there is so much “less” to this initiative than most people might think – including myself.
As with most couples with a history of infertility, our journey to parenthood was a long one, full of both incredible joy and heart-breaking sorrow. We lost triplets (conceived through our first attempt at IVF, following 6+ years of various infertility treatments and procedures), and my heart aches to even think that one child could ever be considered “unwanted.” However, without IVF and other infertility procedures provided by a competent, caring, compassionate Mississippi endocrinologist, my husband and I would not have had our children.
Our son is a frozen embryo transfer miracle (conceived during our first IVF cycle and transferred one year later) and our daughter a miracle from one round of IVF that resulted in only one viable embryo. Through the conception and birth of these two blessings, our hearts have been healed and we are now embracing the ups and downs of parenthood.
Now, to address another aspect of concern. I have also experienced the trauma of a heterotopic pregnancy in which my uterus contained a blighted ovum and one of my fallopian tubes (unknown to us at the time) contained a growing embryo. It wasn’t until my tube ruptured that we realized what was happening. I nearly bled to death – leaving my son to grow up without a mother. I cannot even imagine a woman being threatened with legal action for any treatment regarding an ectopic pregnancy.
With the incredible amount of emotional fluctuation that accompanies infertility treatments themselves, the last thing any couple should have to worry about is whether or not the treatment options they choose might result in legal complications. Even more so, whether or not any treatment options exist at all.
I am a pro-life mother of seven – two are here with me, five are waiting in Heaven for me. Sometimes, I entertain the idea of having another, but I am very bad at bearing them. With our triplets, I had several issues occurring simultaneously (vaginal infection, PROM, gestational diabetes) that I know led to pre-term labor and the most agonizing moment of my life. I also developed gestational diabetes while carrying my son, who was born at 33 weeks, 5 days (and spent 19 days in the NICU). I carried my daughter the “longest,” and delivered her at 36 weeks, 3 days, via an emergency c-section due to high blood pressure. So, as you can imagine, these two children are our world.
With all this being said, this is my stand (taken from parentsagainstms26):
You can be pro-life and still believe that MS 26 is much too restrictive. Many IVF patients consider themselves pro-life, and ALL patients are counseled about the ethical issues prior to undergoing treatment. Couples who are considering infertility treatment put extensive thought into their choices, as do their doctors.
MS 26 is about so much more than just abortion. Even if you’re strongly opposed to elective abortion, please consider that a Yes vote is also a vote against IVF, birth control pills, and safe ectopic pregnancy treatment.
Thank you for listening to our story. Praying that the people of MS see this initiative for what it really is…..not what they think it is.
Melissa & Charlie
If you would like to share your story with us, please email Atlee Breland at atlee@parentsagainstms26.com
To the Brelands, I praise you for being so steadfast in your efforts to have a family. I also praise you for you decision to not try for more due to the risk of losing another. I am against MS 26 and hope your story will help defeat this effort to remove the freedom of choice given by God himself. VOTE NO to MS 26!!!!
I read with compassion your testimony and I think it’s wonderful that you value children enough to go through such struggles. Therefore, I appeal to you to please read more about Amendment 26 before you decide to vote no. There are obvious errors in ALL of the testimonies against Amendment 26 that I have read here so far. Please go to Yeson26.net and get more information. There are proponents of Amendment 26 that have had children through IVF. However, we must not be controlled by FEAR that we may lose THINGS we want, however wonderful and good, such as motherhood, or whatever, to cause us to join in the stand to uphold a law that continues the murder of innocent, precious BABIES…. 53 MILLION, may I remind you. Where is our love and value for ALL babies/children, not just yours, or mine — the ones who’ve had the privilege of being born? We need to focus on LIFE for our little, FELLOW HUMANS who can’t speak up, or defend themselves. Too long have we ignored these little victims and their gruesome deaths. That’s the atrocity…not the THINGS we will supposedly lose. I don’t have the time to address each and every one of the errors, but you can get honest answers by going to the website. It’s definitely worth your time. FYI, there is a meeting tomorrow night, Thursday, October 27th, Broadway Church, 7400 Getwell in Southaven, MS at 7 pm. The main speaker is Brad Prewitt, an attorney for AFA and also the father of two children by IVF.
Which “information” do you suggest we get from Yes On 26? They’ve said nothing more on their website than that IVF would not be made illegal, a claim we have addressed in detail. Their own doctors publicly propose regulations which would effectively prohibit IVF — while it might remain technically legal, it would not be safe or effective, and would be impossible for doctors to practice. (I might also add that those Yes On 26 members with IVF children most likely did not follow the rules they say 26 would implement, such as no cryopreservation and attempting to fertilize only two eggs.)
Ectopic pregnancy and lifesaving abortion? We’ve talked about that too, and explained why we believe that methotrexate and tube-sparing surgery would be potential targets for 26. The Yes On 26 side just says that the doctor “would be required to save both lives if possible”, and does not answer the detailed questions we have raised
Birth control? Once again, Yes On 26′s website is silent on the debate over the effects of BCP on implantation. We’ve reported what Yes On 26 Advisory Board members, and Personhood Colorado, have to say about hormonal birth control (which is that it’s a “chemical abortifacient” and that “it does in fact cause abortions”. We’ve reported that Yes On 26′s FAQ says IUDs would be prohibited by personhood.
Repeating “because we said so” isn’t an honest answer. So where, exactly, on that YesOn26 website is the “more information” to rebut the very specific points we’ve raised?
A few more “details” of our story…..during our first round of IVF, of the 21 eggs retrieved, only 6 fertilized and “grew.” Three embryos were transferred and three were cryopreserved. We lost our triplets and have only one living child from that cycle. My son would not be here today if these options were not available.
Those who experience fertility issues want a child more than anything. Anyone who says that we are selfish in our pursuit to have a family or that we don’t value all human life has never walked in the shoes of a woman who has tried year after year to achieve or maintain a pregnancy or who has lost a baby to miscarriage or stillbirth. In a perfect world, no one would have to endure infertility treatments. However, I have lived the reality and believe that God often reveals His miracles through compassionate doctors. I have been blessed to have received such amazing care and feel that all couples in MS should have the same right.