Abortion attempt survivor. Voice for the voiceless.

A Minot lawmaker wants the North Dakota legislature to make it clear when life begins.

A bill heard today doesn’t neccesarily ban abortion, but Representative Dan Ruby says the legislation attempts to protect life.

The bill says human life begins at conception and makes it a crime to injure or kill an unborn child with some medical exceptions. Donnell Preskey has the story of a Sioux City Iowa woman who traveled over 500 miles to speak out on the issue.

Melssa Ohden was not supposed to be here… (Melissa Ohden) “I COME TO YOU AS A FAILED ABORTION ATTEMPT – 1977…” Melissa calls herself the voice for the voiceless… At 19 Melissa’s mom went to have an abortion..

INTENT OF SOLUTION WAS TO SCALD ME TO DEATH FROM OUTSIDE IN… 72 HOURS – 5 DAYS… NO MEDICAL REASON WHY I SURVIVED..

At 2 pounds 14 ounces baby Melissa was gasping for air… fighting to live… SAD, NO PROTECTION FOR ME AS A CHILD, SOMEONE WHO HAD NO PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW. Now she fights for others… I KNOW MY EXPERIENCE IS UNQUE AS A SURVIVOR… BUT THINK THAT I SHOULDN’T BE HERE TODAY. TELL MY DAUGHTER MY LIFE WASN’T WORTH DEFENDING. Olivia made her presence known at the hearing doing what toddlers do..

So while lawmakers take on the controversial issue they are reminded of how precious life is… THINK NEED TO HAVE LEGISLATION IN PLACE TO DEFEND LIVES LIKE MINE..

Since 1973 there have been over 40,000 abortions in North Dakota.

The only abortion clinic is in Fargo.

Representative Ruby says he’s unsure if this bill will challenge Roe versus Wade

Click to view video of my testimony:  Life at Legislature

As NARAL’s website announced recently:

On January 21, 2011 – the Friday before the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade – we invite pro-choice bloggers and activists to join us for Blog for Choice Day!

Blog for Choice Day is in its sixth year – I know, it’s growing up so fast. Today, we’re able to get even more people writing about choice through Facebook and Twitter. But what hasn’t changed is that Blog for Choice Day still gets more people reading and talking about reproductive rights online on one of the most important days surrounding a woman’s right to choose: the Roe anniversary.

And Blog for Choice Day couldn’t have come at a better time. We truly need people talking about choice now that anti-choice John Boehner is speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Joe Pitts is in charge of a panel that oversees many women’s health programs, and the freshmen class in the House has 79 anti-choice members.

At the state level, as a result of the 2010 elections, the number of anti-choice governors increased from 21 to 29. Plus, 15 states not only have an anti-choice governor, but anti-choice politicians also control the legislature.

That’s why our Blog for Choice Day 2011 question is: Given the anti-choice gains in the states and Congress, are you concerned about choice in 2011?

To contrast the whole rhetoric of “Blog for Choice Day,” Jill Stanek and other pro-life bloggers have joined together to “Ask them what they mean by choice.”  I am happy to be joining my fellow pro-life bloggers to unmask this ambiguous concept of “blogging for choice.”

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Like many other pro-life bloggers, frankly, I find the timing of NARAL’s Blog for Choice Day particularly revolting.  As pro-lifers across the U.S. and the world are preparing to come together to peacefully and prayerfully acknowledge the 38th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision and how it has forever changed American society, it would appear that NARAL, despite all of the personal and research evidence that points to the contrary, is attempting to once again veil the truth of abortion under the guise of ‘choice.’

I plan to lift the veil off the rhetoric of choice this coming Monday, January 24th, when I speak at the Teen Defenders International Youth March, but to put it briefly, I have yet to find someone who can explain to me how it is that as a female child who was subjected to a failed abortion attempt, I am somehow supposed to be provided a better life, provided ‘choice’ by Roe v. Wade, when it was abortion that would have and should have taken my life before I could EVER make a single choice in my life.  NARAL, what DO you mean when you say CHOICE? You see, in my case, and the case of the tens of thousands of other aborted baby girls like me, you can’t have it both ways.  That CHOICE that you state improves women’s lives is actually OUR DEATH SENTENCE.

Let’s lift the veil off the rhetoric of ‘choice’ and call abortion what it really is.  As pro-lifers, we’re brave enough to call it what it is and courageously face the gruesome reality of what it truly looks like (which, as the survivor of a failed abortion attempt is not an easy thing for me to face many days), so how about stepping up, NARAL, and doing the same? Choice = my death and the death of over 50 million children over the last 38 years.  As a child who survived a failed abortion attempt, where was MY CHOICE?

It was announced to the public this week that I have became the patron of Real Choices Australia. I am excited about the opportunity I have to not only work with them but to work with individuals and organizations across Australia to provide real choices and support to women and men that are life-affirming and save more lives like mine. Once again, God had much greater plans for me than I could have ever imagined!

Real Choices’ Website introduction includes the following message from me:

We are thrilled to announce Melissa Ohden as our new Patron.

Melissa says…

The research is clear: when it comes to abortion, most women really don’t have much of a choice.

For the thousands upon thousands of women each year who find themselves driven to abortion due to a lack of social, emotional, or financial supports, where is THEIR choice?

For the thousands upon thousands of women each year who are coerced into having an abortion, where is THEIR choice?

As a woman who was aborted by my biological mother at approximately six months gestation (but who miraculously survived), where was MY choice?

It’s time we work together to provide REAL choices to pregnant and parenting men and women in need, that affirm the lives of unborn children like me and that provide both short-term and long-term solutions toward the well-being of men and women like my biological parents.

Whether it be through providing evidence-based services and supports through medically-enhanced Pregnancy Support Centres, providing information about the long-term physical, emotional, mental and spiritual consequences of abortion, providing information about and making referrals for adoption planning, or facilitating post-abortion healing, it is time we embrace ALL who are impacted by abortion.

Real Choices Australia truly understands the complex issues surrounding abortion. They understand the need to move beyond the rhetoric to a world that embraces REAL SOLUTIONS and REAL CHOICES.  Real Choices Australia is a life-affirming organization which seeks to improve the lives of children like me who face being aborted and women, men, families and communities who are all impacted by abortion.

I am proud to work with Real Choices Australia, and I hope that you consider partnering with us to move past the rhetoric and be REAL – Really honest, Really committed, and Really compassionate about abortion.

Exciting news, indeed.  The Lord has continued to bless me with opportunities like this to make a positive impact on others lives around the world, and I am forever grateful.  I look forward to keeping everyone updated with the accomplishments Real Choices Australia makes in collaboration with me, and that, likewise, we make in collaboration with all of the pro-life individuals and organizations across Australia.