Changing the Heart of the Nation by Showing the Heart of a Child
This past Sunday, I had the pleasure of attending a presentation put on by Heart of a Child Ministries at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Valentine, NE, and seeing in person my first-ever ultrasound of a 22-week-developed baby within the womb of an expectant mother.
The experience was captivating: seeing the child’s forehead, eyes, nose, mouth, feet, toes, hands, spine, and umbilical cord. The baby even gave the audience a high five. I even got to listen to the baby’s heartbeat. I will never forget this experience. I am thankful for this mother's willingness to share this personal moment with a stranger who had never witnessed an ultrasound before.
Hearing the baby’s heartbeat was emotional and uplifting because it demonstrates that this is not simply a “blob of cells” but scientific evidence that this is a real human being developing in the mother’s womb, made in God’s likeness and image. Hearing the baby’s heartbeat reminded me of the scripture passage, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you” (Jeremiah 1:5). I recognized that the baby within the womb of this audience member had a purpose and a mission at this very point in history, even before the child was born.
Heart of a Child Ministries' purpose is to change the hearts and minds of the nation by showing the heart of a child. The ultrasound machine used by the non-profit organization was purchased by the Knights of Columbus, a global Catholic fraternal service order. The ultrasound machine is changing hearts and minds, with over 65% of abortion-minded moms choosing life after hearing the heartbeat of their child on an ultrasound.
Since the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, it is estimated that there have been 63 million children aborted in the United States. This averages to be 2800 children a day lost as a result of a mother choosing to rid herself of the "burden" within her womb. It is unfathomable to think of the number of lives lost that could have made a difference to our society. The lost contributions through the arts and sciences of this generation of children cannot be measured because we simply don't know what could have been created or discovered as a result of their absence.
Another interesting consequence of the number of abortions chosen is the number of couples within the United States unable to adopt because there are so few children that are available for adoption - the alternative to abortion.
Below is a slide from Heart of a Child Ministries showing the effects of abortion on families who want to adopt an infant. There is only one infant available for every 36 families who want to adopt.
Heart of a Child Ministries shared with those in attendance that 75% of adoptions are open adoptions where adopted parents share information with the biological parents and maintain contact as the child matures into adulthood; the remaining 25% are either closed or semi-open.
Moreover, in interviews, 60% of women who had chosen an abortion would have chosen life had they had encouragement and support from family, friends, educators, coaches, their parish community, and prolife pregnancy centers.
Today, the vast majority of abortions (65%) are chemical abortions through the use of two pills:
Mifepristone: blocks the hormone progesterone, which breaks down the uterine lining, preventing the pregnancy from continuing.
Misoprostol is taken 24–48 hours later at home to induce uterine contractions and complete the abortion, after which the baby is then flushed down the toilet.
The remaining abortions account for 33% and are done surgically, where the physican uses forceps to crush baby's head like a walnut, and the rest of its body parts are siphoned out of the womb with a suction device. The surgical team is responsible for making sure the physician has accounted for all the dismembered baby parts by laying them out on a tray prior to disposal.
As one of the members of the Heart of a Child Ministries described, she could not stand the sound or the callousness of the team of physicians who showed no emotion. The ministry team member said that when she witnessed her first abortion at an American military installation in Germany, she became nauseous and wanted to vomit upon the conviction that she was witnessing the termination of a child's life.
Her personal testimony of her life experience as an army med student was later shaped as she shared with the audience her own journey of how she became a single parent, pregnant with a daughter, and how she chose life, despite the difficult circumstances and challenges she faced, especially by our own military personnel. The father basically said, "I will stand by your decision regardless of what you do with the baby." However, it wasn't long thereafter that she had a support network that nurtured her decision to keep and raise her baby daughter.
The witness shared with the audience a beautiful photo of her daughter dressed up, ready to go to kindergarten. I met with her afterwards. I mentioned to her that she is converting hearts and minds with her testimony and that God is using her for His greater glory. There is always good that comes forth from what we think is bad. We just don't know God's intentions or how God will use her innocent child.
In closing, I want to share this dramatic photo that I captured during the presentation. It is an ultrasound photo of a 20-week-old preborn baby's heart. The photo shows the walls of the baby's septum in the form of a cross. The septum in the heart is a muscular wall that separates the left and right sides of the heart, consisting of the interatrial septum (between the atria) and the interventricular septum (between the ventricles). Above the photo was a crucifix displayed in the parish hall.
It is by design that God created the human heart to look like a cross. This is no coincidence. It is the reason why Heart of a Child Ministries' mission is to educate the public by showing ultrasounds to "Change the Heart of a Nation by Showing the Heart of a Child."
I am grateful I received this invitation to attend this educational seminar by Heart of a Child Ministries, hosted by St. Nicholas Catholic Church, and to see the good work this nonprofit organization is doing. They are shedding the truth of the Gospel to kids and adults across the country. I was able to make a donation to the ministry by purchasing one of their Pro-Life Prayer Pillows. All proceeds go to help support women experiencing a crisis pregnancy.
If you are interested in learning more about Heart of a Child Ministries, go to their website: heartofachildministries.org.
If elected as your state senator, I will stand up for the voiceless unborn child and will always stand on the side of life from conception to natural death. Let me be clear: I am Pro-Life, Pro-woman, Pro-Baby, and Pro-Family. I am also an opponent of euthanasia or doctor-assisted suicide.
I stand with the party whose platform supports life, not death. Republicans are often challenged as being "pro-birth" only. I can assure you that I have supported many ministries over the years that take care of both the life of the mother and the life of the baby after birth. I have financially supported ministries that educate the public about the life of the unborn and supported non-profit organizations that provide adoption services. I have supported pregnancy centers so that young moms can receive an ultrasound and/or receive counseling services. I have been a substitute teacher in a public school district for five years, and I have recently earned a master's in teaching elementary education to sustain the pro-life movement's work in education, as it takes a community to raise a child. I have taught religious education to 5th, 6th, and 7th graders within my parish community to share the Gospel message. I have financially supported the feeding of many people throughout the world through Cross Catholic Outreach. I have also ministered to residents in nursing homes for many years, assisting them with their spiritual needs by bringing them communion and by praying with the homeless or homebound. Finally, I have celebrated the lives of those who have gone before us who lived their lives well. These are the activities and ministries that I have actively participated in and will continue to support throughout my life. My father and mother are the biggest pro-life champions in my life, and I continue to carry that torch as long as I am able.
Take care and God bless.
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