Stand up for what you believe in!

I read something today and I felt that I had to share it with others. Last week I was told something about Barack Obama that really disturbed me. I couldn't believe that it could possibly be true, so today I googled to find out for myself. I'm sad to say that what I was told was true. I usually keep my mouth shut when it comes to politics, for the most part, because it seems to get me into trouble. Don't get me wrong, I am definately passionate about what I believe in! I always base my decisions on the word of God, so this makes the decision process quite easy! But, with what I read today, I feel obligated to step out of my 'comfort zone' and tell you what I learned.

There is something called the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, that thankfully is in affect today. It's an Act that provides protection for babies that survive a late term abortion. This act was shot down for several years by Obama when he was senator of Illinois. He was the ONLY senator to vote against this act. What this act does is make it possible for babies who are aborted late term, that are born alive, to be held and cared for until they die. Obama would not vote for this humane act to be allowed! He felt the baby should be left to die alone. The following is something I copied and pasted to explain a little of what he would not support:

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The term “born alive,” with respect to a member of the species homo sapiens, means the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of that member, at any stage of development, who after such expulsion or extraction breathes or has a beating heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, regardless of whether the umbilical cord has been cut, and regardless of whether the expulsion or extraction occurs as a result of natural or induced labor, cesarean section, or induced abortion.

I first encountered Barack Obama on March 27, 2001, when I testified before the Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he was a member. My testimony included my description of holding a premature aborted baby until he died:

One night, a nursing co-worker was taking an aborted Down syndrome baby who was born alive to our Soiled Utility Room because his parents did not want to hold him, and she did not have time to hold him. I could not bear the thought of this suffering child dying alone in a Soiled Utility Room, so I cradled and rocked him for the 45 minutes that he lived. He was 21 to 22 weeks old, weighed about ½ pound, and was about 10 inches long. He was too weak to move very much, expending any energy he had trying to breathe. Toward the end, he was so quiet that I couldn’t tell if he was still alive unless I held him up to the light to see if his heart was still beating through his chest wall. After he was pronounced dead, we folded his little arms across his chest, wrapped him in a tiny shroud, and carried him to the hospital morgue where all of our dead patients are taken.

“What we are doing here is to create one more burden on women, and I can’t support that,” Obama concluded, and voted “no” in committee again. The bill went again to the Senate floor, where Obama was the sole speaker against it, claiming that it would impose a “burden” on physicians. Obama had actually, in April 2002, apparently cast a vote that would continue to allow live birth abortions in the state of Illinois. "We are talking about a situation in which, in the course of an abortion procedure, a child has been born alive — is out of the womb, breathing and living on its own — and he cast a vote against the idea that we should not stand by and let that child die!"

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It makes me almost physically sick to hear that someone could be so cold-hearted to allow this to occur! How could someone just let a baby die alone in a room, suffering, by themselves? I've always struggled hearing such things, but even more since having Gavin. There are so many selfish people in this world who would look at Gavin and others like him, and think more about themselves than one who doesn't appear to be 'viable' with this world. There are so many things wrong with Gavin's health, but does this make him less of a person or make him not deserving of love and care?! Life is not all about us. Our family's life may have been changed considerably since having Gavin here with us. We may not be able to just get up and go to do things that we want to do. We may have a little more responsibility than we bargained for. We may not have a 'bright future' ahead of us, on this earth, concerning Gavin's abilities. But, IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT US!!! All of us really need to stop being so selfish and consider those less fortunate than ourselves!

Today Gavin went to the eye doctor. She said that his eyes actually looked better this time, than the last. This is good news, but as she was finished, she asked if I had any questions. I asked what was considered legally blind. She told me that Gavin was considered legally blind! I had no idea! (I want to clarify that Gavin can see, since he tracks objects, but not very well.) She had never shared this info with me and would not have, if I hadn't asked this question. It makes me wonder if it's because she thinks that his life isn't 'worth' anything anyway, so why even do anything about it?! We are faced with this kind of thing all the time. Gavin is looked at as being 'not worth it' when compared to the "average child his age." We have been told this! We have also been told by a lawyer that a jury would not vote for any compensation for Gavin, since his life is somewhat 'worthless' anyway! I want to know WHO gets to decide this anyway?! Yes, Gavin won't be able to do what the 'average' person is able to do, but he is still a person! He still feels love and shows love! In fact, if you ask me (and I know that I'm biased), I'd say that Gavin and others like him may have MORE to offer others than the "average" person! I say this because I've learned more, felt more, gave more of myself and have been blessed by more since he's been around! Thank you Lord for Gavin and those like him! Lord, may you help others to see their importance like I've had the opportunity to see so brightly!

I was feeling quite sad about the diagnosis that was given to Gavin today. I don't really know why I was so sad, since he could see the same amount when we left the office as when we arrived there. I guess it was just hearing those words out loud. Anyway, while I was looking for a verse to end this post with, I was led to a verse in the bible that gave me so much hope and happiness! God ALWAYS gives us what we stand in need of! For this I am very thankful!


"For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7