Melissa Ohden is a figure of considerable renown within the pro-life movement. Melissa Ohden, herself a survivor of a “failed” abortion in the seventh month, is the founder of the Abortion Survivors Network. She is currently writing a new book, entitled More Than A Choice. In her forthcoming book, Abortion Survivors Break Their Silence, Melissa Ohden will present the testimonies of women who have survived abortions.
It was to be expected that I would consider Melissa, who has frequently contributed to NRL News and has delivered numerous addresses at the National Right to Life annual convention, when I encountered the article, “GUEST COMMENTARY Kansas Rep: ‘I saw a baby survive an abortion and that’s why I sponsored a law.’”
The representative is Ron Bryce, R-Coffeyville, who is a physician and represents District 11 in the Kansas House of Representatives. His account commences in 1988. “I was the medical resident on duty at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas when I was summoned to a ‘Code Blue’.”
In the typical case, as explained by Rep. Bryce,
someone experiencing a life-threatening emergency, such as cardiac arrest. But this time no one seemed to be in distress. The attending surgeon was not actively involved. The young woman on the operating table was awake and appeared to be in no distress.
Then there was a cry. I turned to see a premature baby lying on a metal table in the corner of the room.
He had done the seemingly impossible – survived his abortion. Although he was strong enough to live outside the womb for a short time, he was still too young to survive being separated from his mother for very long. The health service had failed to take his life, and then had very little to offer to help him live.
Upon recognizing that the infant was beyond the capacity for a rapid demise, Bryce transferred the patient to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for further care. The infant’s respiratory effort became increasingly labored, and he exhibited grimacing.
Then the moaning stopped, the movement stopped and the grimace disappeared. I pronounced him dead. It was the first time I had ever heard of a baby surviving an attempted abortion. I assumed it was rare. But then our county health department investigated infant mortality cases and found 27 such babies born alive over a three-year period.
He had the personal experience of witnessing the brief life of that young boy, a memory that would undoubtedly be seared into his heart and his brain. When he discovered that the young boy was not unique, but that twenty-seven other babies had been born alive over the space of three years, he was forced to confront the reality of the situation. It would be beneficial for us all to reflect on the implications of this testimony to our collective inhumanity.
In 2023, Representative Bryce wrote that he joined more than 50 of his colleagues in co-sponsoring the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act. The legislation, which has now been enacted, ensures that medical practitioners in Kansas provide appropriate care for any infant who survives the birthing process.
The Born-Alive Infants Protection Act is of great importance in the enforcement of the law. It requires the reporting of cases such as this, the provision of information regarding the medical care provided, and other pertinent details.
It is, of course, unnecessary to state that Governor Laura Kelly, in her capacity as a proponent of abortion rights, exercised her veto power in a manner that could be considered heartless with regard to the aforementioned bill. Nevertheless, in April, the Kansas Senate and House overrode the vetoes of the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act and two other pro-life measures.
For the first time in the state’s history, a bipartisan group of legislators came together to override a Governor’s veto of pro-life policies. This was according to Jeanne Gawdun, Director of Government Relations at Kansans for Life. “Not only did they have the courage to stand against the Governor’s extremist views on abortion and infanticide, but they also ensured that women were provided with potentially life-saving information and compassionate abortion alternatives.”
Daniel Miller is responsible for nearly all of National Right to Life News' political writing.
With the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, Daniel Miller developed a deep obsession with U.S. politics that has never let go of the political scientist. Whether it's the election of Joe Biden, the midterm elections in Congress, the abortion rights debate in the Supreme Court or the mudslinging in the primaries - Daniel Miller is happy to stay up late for you.
Daniel was born and raised in New York. After living in China, working for a news agency and another stint at a major news network, he now lives in Arizona with his two daughters.
