Respect Life: Getting out of Dodge!

“Mommy and daddy are going to help save babies!” shouted our daughter, Lucia, as we explained that we were going to be moving to Oklahoma City to work as Respect Life coordinators for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. My husband, David, and I looked at each other and our hearts were set on fire! What a worthy mission the Lord has entrusted to his unworthy servants.
 
David, our five kids, and I just moved here to OKC at the end of August from Dodge City, Kan., and we are thrilled to be so welcomed into these new-to-us ministry roles. For the past 15 years, we have worked in youth and music ministry, traveling around the country and sharing the Gospel through music, witness and teaching, including at the National Catholic Youth Conference and Steubenville Youth Conferences. We have tried our best to live our ministry through our vocation as parents to five young children under age 10 and we are excited to work as a married couple in this ministry!
 
This past year, the Lord opened our eyes in a new way to how important it is to be pro-life, particularly in the area of women’s reproductive health. We always prayed for an end to abortion and strived to help women in difficult situations. However, we were made aware of a more indirect and insidious injustice a few months ago when I had to have an emergency surgery for a tumor growing on my ovary.
 
Not only was I judged for having five children and dismissed that the excruciating pain I was feeling was “just cramps,” but I also was told that it would not be a big deal if I lost an ovary. I would “still be fertile, but why would you want any more kids?” And, I was sent home with a note that said, “Noelle is restricted to limited walking.”
 
Consequently, after seeing two different doctors and being dismissed, I ended up in an emergency surgery due to ovarian torsion with the unfortunate consequence of having a surgeon who performed such sloppy work that I will need another surgery eventually. He told me that because I did not have traditional insurance (we are part of a healthshare), I should take the less expensive route of pain pills. While we were having this conversation, unbeknownst to both of us at the time, I was bleeding internally. Thankfully, in part due to regularly tracking and being in tune with my cycle through Natural Family Planning, I knew something was seriously wrong and was able to speak up for myself: I need help. I need surgery. Now.
 
What does all of this have to do with Respect Life? It has to do with how abortive and contraceptive mentality has affected women’s health – directly hindering their ability to get appropriate medical care for issues regarding reproductive health. A woman’s fertility (and even infertility) is not a priority.
 
There is a “fertility bias” against women. All the talk we hear of “rights, choice and equality” is unfortunately a euphemism for “your pregnancy, your problem.” If we are to be a truly pro-life people, we must support women and fight this fertility bias that her fertility is an obstacle to her personhood and success as a woman.
 
As Respect Life coordinators, we will need you to help us in this battle for women, children, fathers and families. We plan to work together with people who already are working to promote a culture of life in Oklahoma and those who will be called to help women and families thrive and take abortion off the table as an option.
 
Our mission statement is, “Children are not an obstacle to your dreams …they are the inspiration.” Thank you for welcoming us. It is good to be here.