A woman's right to choose? Or a baby's right to live?

Hello Everyone! (this was written March '08)

This is Morgendee... this is NOT a forward, but rather words from my heart to yours! So, please read up... I got pretty passionate this morning :)

I wanted to pass along this story and these pictures to my family and friends! I have a point... so read on :)

This is from one of my director girlfriends (Kathy) in Mary Kay. In January she was at Leadership Conference in Houston when her water broke the day she was headed back to her home in Virginia... she was only 16 weeks pregnant at the time. She was rushed to the hospital and her husband flew down by her side, as they knew not what was going to happen to the baby! The baby, Deidra-Elise, was alive, minus all of her amniotic fluid surrounding her! A few days later Kathy was released, flew home and was on TOTAL BED-REST... TOTALLY... BATHROOM ONLY! She also had regular doctors appointments for about 5 weeks since being home from Houston.

I've been emailing her back and forth for the past several weeks, as I wanted her to keep me abreast of everything going on with the baby and herself. She was doing great (all things considering), the doctors said that the best case scenario would be that she could make it to 24 weeks and then the baby could get steroid treatments to help with lung development... that would still only give the baby 50% chance to survive.

Here is an email that she sent to me on Feb. 13th explaining her situation to me:
Hey girl! Yes my water broke (at 16 weeks) Sunday before Julius Henderson's workshop and they kept me at the Local Hospital until Monday night. Judie & Gary stayed w/me until Jay got there and then he flew me home to the Doctors here. I had been going ever 3 days for a Sono to check on the baby until last Tuesday when my fever climbed so we went to the hospital thinking they were going to take the baby because I had received an infection but after a 6 day stay thereturns out I had a flu bug so we are back at home again on bed rest to take it day by day. My baby still has no fluid because I did not seal over and refill so the chances of her living even if I carry her full term are slim to none.

I do know however that GOD is a higher power then any of today's science and Jay & I are confident that He will work things out according to his plan for our lives. If I do make it to March 23 (I would be 24 weeks pregnant by then) I will be admitted to the Hospital for the duration of the pregnancy since baby will be considered viable and they can work on her with steroid treatments to enhance her lung development, etc. So we are taking it one day at a time and trying to make arrangements for Ariana (3yrs) & Isabella (2yrs May 5th) since there is no way that Jay can take of from work for 4 months!Please keep us in your prayers and have a great February! Pink Hugs,Kathy

Here is an update on March 6th from Kathy:
baby Deidra- Elise Benitez is 1lb-1oz as of yesterday and from everything that science can measure she is growing perfectly. With no fluid we have still no way of knowing (because there is no test available for this) if her lungs are developing at all. So we are taking it day by day and trusting with peaceful hearts that God is in control of her outcome!

Easter Sunday they will admit me to the hospital for the duration of the pregnancy so they can work more intensely and yes, to ensure I stay off my feet!


And here is an update that I received on March 9th... just a couple of days after she wrote me the email above.

I wanted to let you all know, Jay and I had to rush to the hospital Thursday night (3-6-08) where Deidra-Elise was born at 11:37 pm and went with God, a little past 12:00am. At 22 weeks she was 15 ounces and 10 ¼ inches long…she was absolutely beautiful and perfect in every way…she was just born too early and there was absolutely nothing the doctors could do for her.

We were able to hold her during her short lifetime, talk to her and sing to her as she began her journey to meet our heavenly father. We are doing as well as can be expected and are home now. I wanted to take this moment to tell you about the baby, but also to thank you all from all of my heart for your prayers, concerns, letters, cards, emails, flowers, meals, help and love during these last couple months. Without you, I am not sure we would’ve been able to focus on our little one the way we did. The better way to look at this is we have been expecting the worse and hoping for the better for the last 5 weeks and unfortunately got the worse; however, in just her short minutes on earth, she has taught us how to live each waking moment with love, determination and happiness. She will forever live in our hearts and will forever live as a great example on how to fight for life no matter how bleak the picture may seem.

God gives and God takes away… blessed be His name! We are thankful that we are very blessed with 2 beautiful, healthy, intelligent girlies and we will continue on as a blessed family! We love you all…and once again from our hearts, THANK YOU!

R/S,
Jason & Kathy

This was a tragic loss for this family, especially for Kathy as she was carrying the baby and going through a lot with her health as well (infection, etc.).

Please keep this family in your continued prayers as I KNOW they struggle daily with the loss of Deidra-Elise.

The thing that got me about this final email (below) and the pictures that Kathy sent is that PEOPLE HAVE ABORTIONS and some people even think THIS ISN'T A LIFE!

Take a good look at these few pictures that Jason and Kathy sent... isn't she tiny and beautiful? Perfectly formed, just too little!

okay... here I go............

HOW IN THE WORLD could a woman POSSIBLY think about aborting such a beautiful, innocent life... WRECKING a life (the baby's) to "save" their own... completely selfish!

I'M SO SICK of the "save the whales / sea turtles / dog fighting / dolphins" mentality and NOT CARING ABOUT A HUMAN LIFE but rather a "woman's choice"... INCREDIBLY HYPOCRITICAL! (don't get me wrong, i LOVE all kinds of animals... but I will always advocate for HUMAN LIFE above any kind of animal!)

Now that I'm getting older and yes, oh so much wiser (hehehe!)... it just SICKENS me and makes me want to VOMIT and CRY MY EYES OUT!

Please, please, please get this message out to everyone! So that if people EVER think about taking their own baby's life just to salvage their own... they take a second, third and fourth look at the beautiful pictures below! SHE IS A LIFE! And if THEY don't want the baby... there are PLENTY of ppl out there that would gladly take a child!

As a matter of fact, there are SOOOOOOOOOO many couples that aren't privileged enough to be able to have children... the selfishness of taking a life is just despicable!

I'm so passionate about this... I've been talking to Neal a lot lately about becoming a lobbyist... not sure what for, I just wanted to fight for morality in our nation in some way! I love our country but feel that we are taking a downward spiral in what effects us now-days. Everything is so "acceptable" now days. Maybe abortion or the "woman's right to choose" is a great subject to go against!

ABORTION AFTER CONCEPTION IS WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! (of course if there is incest or rape the situation could be different, however that is a TINY percentage of women seeking abortions!

I could go off on a new subject that's been introduced into the world lately through DIVINE Hollywood (ha!)... BABIES WITHOUT BEING MARRIED? what in the heck? and what about this hollywood mentality of "marriage being just a piece of paper"... WHERE IS GOD IN THEIR LIVES? HE isn't! Don't get me started on that because I could GO OFF on that subject! It's VERY disgusting as well! Neal and I were talking last night.. who in Hollywood to you know right now that IS IN FACT married????

Remember, GOOD is still LOST! Just because these people maybe advocates for 'humanity' or 'dolphins' or whatever CERTAINLY does not make them righteous in God's eyes! And isn't that who matters?

When we all pass away... we want the Lord to say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." and NOT, "depart from me, I never knew you"....

i'm getting closer to a close here :)

So, all in all this boils down to ALWAYS living our lives aligned with God's plan for our lives and OBEYING His word (THE BIBLE!)!

I write this to you, not as a perfect person (and you ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL know that!), but as THE BIGGEST sinner (thankfully we have forgiveness and grace through Jesus, right? I'm SOOO thankful! I could never hold up His standard!) and a woman with a passion for morality in my family first and foremost (b/c i want to see you ALL in heaven with me) and in this great, great country that I love so much! I believe in this country and I do believe in our government... I'm not one to buy into all the governmental conspiracy theories (and in my opinion think this is the Christian way to think!).

YOU can make a difference in who you vote for each election (imagine being in a communistic country?) AND of course most importantly in how you live your own life!

I love you all SOOOOOOOOOO much!

Morgendee