Darlene was conceived in rape, but unlike the many other accounts I have written about previously, where there have been good outcomes fairly soon, Darlene suffered for years.
Darlene, you inspire me and so many others with your courage, endurance, tenacity, faith, and your remarkable story of overcoming impossible circumstances to give LIFE to YOUR child and help others! Kuddos to you Darlene! You GO Girl!
"...And I Am Not The Rapist’s Baby!"
Mary Rathke was concieved via rape by a mother with severe mental illness, but her life is as valuable as any other person's.
Mary says, "I was never the rapist’s baby, nor my mother’s," yet she overcame all of this and other difficulties and she is thriving today. Read her story for yourself; you will be moved by her optimism.
How Exciting! This is the first time in 6 1/2 years that I have posted twice in one day!
"To my mom, I am not simply the painful reminder of a tragic abuse; I am a son she considers a gift from God, says Nick D'Angelo."
Nick, who is involved with Save the 1, inspires others as he share his story and his optimism!
...When they learn my daughter was conceived in rape."
So begins Analyn Megison's story. And it is something my own daughter often still deals with when someone learns that her daughter, my granddaughter, was also conceived via a rape.
Read Analyn's insights for yourself and please take to heart her excellent advice. Also, check out the organization that she is part of that is assisting rape survivor mothers and their children.
What does a 15-year-old do when she realizes that the rape she endured has resulted in pregnancy?
Iva had gone to sit in the park and sketch trees on a beautiful sunny day at the end of June 2013. But the beauty of this day was shattered when a man rape her then threatened her if she told anyone. Read Iva's story of courage and love for yourself!
Remember Juda Myers? She was featured in this blog a while back.
Juda Myers is the founder of CHOICES4LIFE, an organization dedicated to helping restore honor and dignity to women and their children who have been conceived in rape. She also helps women who have miscarried or aborted find comfort and hope.
In this article, Juda writes about more brave women, who face their challenges head on as they give their unborn babies the gift of life, despite the pain they carry from their babies' conceptions.
Keep up the great work, Juda!
Read how O'Neil and his mother moved beyond tragedy to impact others' lives for the better.
It was 1928 when 16-year-old Minka Disbrow’s life was changed forever. Before she even knew how babies were made, Minka was attacked and raped by a stranger.
She hid what had happened to her from her family and friends — that is, until she realized that her body was changing. It was then that Minka's mother had to explain to her that she was pregnant and to tell Minka for the first time where babies come from. Her mother made the decision to hide her daughter's situation from everyone--even Minka's own sister. When Minka had her baby, she placed her new born daughter for adoption.
For Minka, keeping the baby and her rape a secret became a habit — one she continued throughout her life, concealing it even from those closest to her. What an amazing story and what a wonderful reunion this mother had seventy-seven years after she placed her daughter for adoption!
This pastor's daughter was caught up in an abusive relationship for years--even marrying her rapist out of fear. Her son AJ, who was conceived in rape, eventually gave her the courage to face her situation and break free from the abuse.
Read her story of hope and bravery for your self!
...that they didn’t have an abortion!
You have read about CHOICES4LIFE here before; it's the organization that supports women who have conceived via rape. Now read how this relatively new organization is helping many mom's who are in great need.
Yes, you read that correctly! In 31, that's in thirty-one states a rapist can seek custody of the child conceived as a result of his crime! Yes, in more than 60% of the states in this country, a man can rape a women, and if she conceives as a result and carries her baby to term, he can block an adoption and/or seek custody of this child. And since it is estimated that more than 25,000 women conceive each year as a result of the crime of rape, this impacts a larger number of women and their babies than most people realize!
Why aren't the feminists tackling this "War on Women and Their Children?"
When Shauna Prewitt was raped as a 21-year-old, and conceived her daughter as a result of the rape, she made the brave decision to have her baby and raise her. She had no idea that her rapist could and would come after her daughter, seeking custody.
Today Shauna is a legal scholar and author. You are an amazing woman, Ms. Prewitt! And your story will continue to inspires others and make a difference in the lives of women and children around the world!
I encourage you to also read her story from CNN.
Patty, who was conceived in rape, honors her birthmother for giving her life. She also stands up for those like her, who cannot speak for themselves, by standing outside a Planned Parenthood facility during 40 Days for Life, giving face and voice to those whom many would seek to kill through abortion, supposedly as an act of mercy toward the raped woman.
Be sure to view the video of Patty, honoring her birthmom, at the end of the article!
There is a new (to me anyway) organization that is working in the trenches to save the lives of persons conceived via rape. Here is what they say they want to accomplish.
"Living Exceptions is an organization founded by Rape conceived women who want to educate individuals on what it means to be 100% Pro-Life. 60% of Pro-Lifers hold a Rape Exception and we feel that education is the key to these pro-lifers discovering the truth in value of all human life. All Life has value, the woman who's going through the difficult pregnancy and the child who's life hangs in the balance."
I recommend you visit their site for yourself and read the stories of these remarkable individuals!
There are those that let the odds define them and those who strive to defy the odds. Valerie Gatto, Miss Pennsylvania USA 2014, is defining more than the odds with her positive outlook and the many contributions she is already making in our world.
Her story is one that could have ended in tragedy but her mother's courage set her on a course of triumph!
Valerie's mother was raped at knife-point but managed to escape her attacker, and though she conceived Valerie as a result of this crime, she chose to give Valerie the gift of life. Turning this negative into a positive has impacted Valerie's life for good in so many ways.
In June of 2008, Kristi Hofferber decided it was time to ask her adoptive parents about her birth parents. What she found out about her birth parents was the biggest shock of her life!
What she learned was that her birth mother was repeatedly molested by her father and as a result, became pregnant with Kristi. Out of years of abuse and torture, Kristi was the only survivor of six children who had been conceived in incest. Kristi says, "I am not an exception, I just have an exceptional story!"
Kudos to you, Kristi, for the courage you show us in sharing your powerful story!
This young girl was the typical, carefree child of the late 1960s and early 1970s. She, her siblings, and friends would run the neighborhood, playing and going from neighbor's house to neighbor's house, from early morning until the porch lights went on.
But then something changed...
Although this woman does not share much about her child conceived in rape, or even give us her name, she tells us her own powerful story of love, acceptance and LIFE!
Father Luis Alfredo Leon Armijos, 41, was conceived in rape when his mother was just 13 years old. Years later, Father Luis received a call from his father who had to go through a surgery. “He was scared and told me: I want you to hear my confession,” said Leon.
This remarkable story of grace and forgiveness shows how God can take tragedy and sin and turn it into something good and beautiful. It is also yet another testimony to the intrinsic value of every human life, whether that person is someone conceived in rape or is the rapist himself!
What if a law was proposed to limit abortions for everyone except the 1% of those people in that minority group. Would you support it? Because 99% would be saved. Or would you be the person who is able to see the prejudice and bigotry that is harbored against that 1%?
That is the question that Mary Rathke wants us to consider. Why? Because she is part of that 1%.
Mary challenges us, "How sad that so many who purport to champion the cause of the unborn, consider me “an exception”. But I’m NOT an exception…I am a human being, just like any other pre-born human being."
Read Mary's story and challenge yourself if you think abortion in cases of rape is "OK" and acceptable. You can also read her blog and get a greater insight into this issue and the inestimable value that every human being has, yes, especially those conceived from rape!
