By Serena Farace
The CLSP 2022 Pro-Life Essay Contest was a fantastic opportunity for us to listen to kids and teens as they expressed their thoughts about the sanctity of life. This year, a young woman’s personal story moved us to tears. We were so inspired that we wanted to share it here in the hopes that more people will understand the beauty and selflessness of adoption.
I am 14 years old, and for as long as I can remember I have been pro-life. I am very passionate about this topic, not only because I am adopted, but also because I was almost killed in an abortion. The CLSP essay prompt never said that the saint had to be dead, so I decided to put a twist on my essay. My name is Serena, and the saint I chose to write my essay on is my birth mother.
Fourteen years ago, my birth mother Kelly (age 19) and birth father Josh (age 20) found out that they were pregnant. My birth father was really scared and told my birth mother that she needed to have an abortion, but she was hesitant about it. Shortly thereafter, other people were telling her that she was too young and that she had to kill her baby and that it was her “right to do so.” Despite all of the pressure, she chose to say no to all the people weighing her down with all of their negative remarks. That day, she saved a life. My life. Even though my birth mother had no religious affiliation, she knew that abortions kill babies. With peace in her heart, she chose adoption so that I could have a better life.
Amazingly enough, once my birth mother made the adoption plan, my birth father was totally on board and was even in the delivery room when I was born! He held me and fed me and loved me. Along with my birth mother, he comes every single year to see me at our annual visit. It means the world to me. If a scared birth father can learn the truth about abortion, I am convinced that anyone can.
To read the remainder of this article, visit the Celebrate Life Magazine website at clmagazine.org/topic/adoption/from-abortion-to-adoption.