-
Many of you may have wondered, Whats the point?... or perhaps
pitied us for having to continue carrying a child who is not going
to live for long... I understand these thoughts, because when my
sister was carrying Thomas Walter (who had been diagnosed with
anencephaly at 18 weeks and lived for 17 hours after birth) I
really didnt properly comprehend the whole situation. I knew it was
the right thing to do. I didnt question that I would have no other
option if the same thing ever happened to me (although I knew it
never would!) But I thought how awful it was to know for over four
months that the child you are carrying is unable to live outside
your womb.
Once he was born, I was able to hold my nephew and see him
finally as a real person - a precious unique creation - I began to
realise that there was a lot more to it than mere ethics. When,
much to my disbelief, my own baby, Benedict, was diagnosed with
this same condition four years later - I was finally able to grasp
it, although it has taken me a long time to be able to put my
thoughts into words. It is only since Charlottes diagnosis that I
have found words that almost convey my feelings.
Some people think we carried Benedict and Charlotte to term
because we dont agree with abortion, because we are Catholic, or
perhaps because our nephew was carried to term after a fatal
diagnosis. While these factors probably all played a part in our
immediate refusal of the option to terminate, this is not what its
all about! Its about love! Its about my baby! Its not about some
tragic, fatal medical condition - its about my child. We do not
possess more strength than other people. Its not because we can
cope where others wouldnt. There is no way to avoid the sad fact
that she cannot live long after birth with this condition, but
causing Charlotte to die earlier will not stop this happening.
Causing her to die earlier will only take from us the beautiful
experience of knowing and loving her.
The tragedy is not the fact that we know our baby will die. The
tragedy is that our baby will die. It is not nice to know for
months beforehand, but it gives us a chance to appreciate a life so
brief, and not to miss a moment.
The value of Thomas Walter, Benedict and Charlotte cannot be
measured by the length of their lives - we dont apply this
yardstick to adults, so why should we to babies? A baby is not a
possession, an accessory to acquire. A baby is a gift, a new
entity, a precious, individual soul loved by God. We are created
for a purpose, there is a reason for our being here. Even if that
reason is unclear to us most of the time, we are constantly
affecting other people in our families, communities etc. Who knows
what purpose can be fulfilled in 9 months and one day? I dont know,
but God does. I do know that Benedict left a lasting impression on
our family, he made us slow down, savour life, and treasure our
other children even more. He made us realise that we cannot control
or predict what will happen in the future, he made us rely on God.
And how often are we given the opportunity to really give another
person true unconditional love? Love that truly expects no return?
It is a blessing to experience that kind of pure love!
So dont pity us for carrying a child we know will die. Carrying
this beautiful person is an honour. Grieve for the fact that our
baby will die. We wouldnt wish away the time we had with Benedict,
and also this time we are now experiencing with Charlotte, just to
save us the pain of losing them. Ive always thought of it like
this; if your 3 year old was diagnosed with untreatable, fatal
cancer and had only 4 months to live; would you prefer the doctor
kill your child straight away so that you didnt have to wait for
his/her impending death? Or would you prefer to spend as much time
as you could with your child and love him/her for as long as you
had left?
Someone asked us after Benedict died, Was it worth it? Oh, YES!
For the chance to hold him, and see him, and love him before
letting him go ... For the chance for our children to see that we
would never stop loving them, regardless of their imperfections?
For the chance to give him everything we could? Oh, YES! Love your
children, and remember that they each have their own unique
mission. Children are always and only a blessing from God - even if
they dont stay very long...
(Read full story on p3.)
Direct DepositsBSB: 034 061
Account: 25-2709Cherish Life Queensland
Bank: Westpac, ToowongABN: 44 470 248 746
(previously Queensland Right to Life)
Head Office
Suite 5, Benson House2 Benson Street(PO Box 1382)TOOWONG DC Q
4066
P: (07) 3871 2445F: (07) 3720
[email protected]
Follow
us:www.facebook.com/cherishlifeqldwww.twitter.com/cherishlifeqld
Atherton Tablelands Carol OConnell Ph: 4095
[email protected]
Bundaberg Barry KirbyPh: 4151
[email protected]
CairnsDr Tim CoylePh: 4054 [email protected]
Emerald Margaret Smith Ph: 4987
[email protected]
Gladstone Colina Knol Ph: 0422 111
[email protected]
Gold CoastJade ReadPh: 0423 372
[email protected]
GympieRoss DaviesPh: 5482 [email protected]
Mackay Dr Graeme [email protected]
Nambour & Sunshine Coast Jacinta PurcellPh: 0437 868
[email protected]
Redcliffe & Northern SuburbsJulie BorgerPh: 3284 7743
[email protected]
Rockhampton Noelle MelrosePh: 4928
[email protected]
Toowoomba Dr Donna Purcell Ph: 4633 1447
[email protected]
TownsvilleMary Lambert (Secretary)Ph: 4779
[email protected]
WarwickMaritta HutleyPh: 0439 003
[email protected]
Volume 43 Issue 2 June 2015 Page 1Cherish Life Newsletter
Why Carry A Dying Child?A Mothers Perspective By Teresa
Streckfuss
Upcoming Events
Cherish Life Branches
Volume 43 Issue 2 June 2015 Page 6Cherish Life NewsletterVolume
43 Issue 2 June 2015 Page 5Cherish Life Newsletter
Tokens, jars, and burgers. Oh my!!!During May, Cherish Life
Queensland received an email from the burger chain, Grilld,
inviting us to write a few words to go on one of their Local
Matters jars in the Toowong store. The email stated that three
community businesses were chosen each month, and if diners placed
the token they were given when buying a burger in our jar, and CLQ
had the most tokens, $300 would be donated to us, or if a lesser
amount of tokens, we would receive a $100 donation. CLQ was chosen
for the month of June and our tag placed on one of the three jars
in their store.
On the afternoon of Wednesday 10 June, we were alerted that
Simon Crowe, the owner of the burger chain, was speaking on ABC
radio and stated that the jar with our tag on it had been removed
from the Toowong store, as, in his words, his chain of stores is
pro-choice. He further went on to state that Everyone has a right
to have their opinion, but in this instance our opinion is about
pro-choice. Yes, you read that right! Seems he cant be much clearer
than that choice is only choice when it means abortion.
Though he used the word pro-choice that is merely a euphemism -
if it wasnt, he would have been happy for an organisation with a
life-for-the-baby-and-real-love-care-and-support-for-the-mother
option to be represented. At least half of his staff and half his
customers would not agree with his pro-abortion stance. Mr Crowe
has taken it upon himself to speak for all of his staff and all his
customers!
ACTION REQUIRED: We are encouraging everyone to write to Mr
Crowe and let him know that he does not speak for you when he
states his burger chain is pro-choice, and express your
dissatisfaction re the censorship of the situation. The irony is,
it was Mr Crowes own head office that approved our tag in the first
place! We also encourage you to dine elsewhere and then post in
your receipts to him to show him how much money his chain of stores
is losing due to his pro-abortion statement and censorship.
The address is:
Happily, due to all the publicity, we have had donations that
total 20-fold the minimum amount we could have won. They have come
from as far away as Western Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, and
as far north as Townsville. We have also had a number of people
contacting us to volunteer their services for our organisation. So
this small cloud of censorship has certainly had a large silver
lining.
As one of our Facebook friends has stated, It never ceases to
amaze me that a business that relies on customers walking through
the front door would advocate the killing of its future
customers.
The Sanctity of Life Sunday Sunday 11 October See enclosed flyer
for details of bookmarks and flyers available for purchase to
support
Sanctity of Life Sunday in your churches.
Cherish Life Annual Dinner Thursday 8 October Details closer to
event. Venue: Indooroopilly Golf Club, Meiers Rd,
Indooroopilly.
Note: This event is being held in October this year.
envelopeSimon Crowe
Level 2, 4-10 Amsterdam St Richmond VIC 3121
or email him on:www.grilld.com.au/say-hi/
A visitor to the Cherish Life stand at the Pregnancy,
Babies,
Children Expo held 19-21 June in Brisbane
being served by our
wonderful volunteer, Rebecca.
Sunday 11 October is Sanctity of Life Sunday. Please order your
bookmarks or bulletin flyer for your church asap available until
stocks run out. See enclosed flyer ordering form for details.
L to R: State President Teresa Martin, Bobby Schindl
er and wife Kristina.
CLQ Toowoomba branchs stand at the Toowoomba
Show with branch member Maria Lossberg assisting
two interested visitors.
Bobby and Kristina
Schindler enjoying
Brisbane.
Flyer:front
Flyer:back
Equal Value bookmark:front
Equal Value bookmark:back
Prayer for Reverence for Life bookmark:front and back
Cherish Life bookmark: front and back
-
Carolyn Mongan - All in the name of choiceCarolyn Mongan is a
counsellor with Pregnancy Support in Canberra, ACT. The Australian
Capital Territory was the first to legalise abortion and the rest
of the other states in Australia are a court case away from the
same happening there, Carolyn warned. She pointed out that in
George Orwells book 1984 it shows how words are deliberately
constructed for political purposes desired to impart a particular
attitude in the people using them, and to influence those around
them. This is where we are now in the public arena re abortion and
euthanasia. It is important that we dont accidentally help the
pro-abortion lobby by default by making a statement like No
abortion on demand when we should be saying No to abortion, Carolyn
said.
Carolyn showed some beautiful pictures of babies saved from
abortion when their mothers chose life after contacting Pregnancy
Support. She also showed an ultrasound image that was particularly
touching as it was
of a baby whose mother had taken the first drug of the RU-486
abortion process before changing her mind. The ultrasound indicates
the baby does not appear to have been harmed from the abortion
drug, and though unborn at the time of the conference, seems to be
doing well.
FOOTNOTE: We have recently seen a photo of the still-pregnant
mum proudly smiling and profiling her baby bump belly. Please
continue to keep this young mum, her husband and their pre-born
baby in your prayers.
Dr Terry Kent - RU-486 can be reversed!Dr Terry Kent is a
General Practitioner at Raceview with a special interest in NaPro
Technology (NPT) and fertility care (www.fertilitycare.com.au). Dr
Kent studied NPT at the Pope Paul VI Institute in Omaha, Nebraska,
USA. NaPro stands for Natural Procreative technology that works
co-operatively with the bodys natural procreative cycles. It does
not suppress the bodys reproductive system, but
enhances its function. His topic was RU-486 can be reversed! and
he explained how this could be done and has been done using NPT. Dr
Kent broke down what would have been a complicated explanation
about the functioning and harms of RU-486. He stated:
In the RU-486 abortion pill regiment (used to abort babies up to
49 days or 7 weeks gestation), Mifepristone is given first - this
shuts down the babys nutrition source. This is followed by
Misoprostal which causes contractions to expel the unborn baby.
Dr Matthew Harrison in the USA had the first known successful
reversal of the abortion pill by using a regime of natural
progesterone. In simple terms, natural progesterone supplementation
stops the uterus from contracting and can help prevent
miscarriages.
89 successful reversals of the RU-486 abortion process have
taken place where the mothers have only taken the first part of the
drug regime - Mifepristone - with a 60% success rate of the babies
being born perfectly fine. If the second abortion pill has been
taken, there is a 4%-12% risk of abnormality.
Dr Kent had a case a few months ago where he treated a young
woman with natural progesterone after she had taken the first
abortion drug. This halted the process and he was happy to state
that this young womans pregnancy is progressing well.
The website abortionpillreversal.com is very helpful in giving
women information, and points them to medical professionals that
can help reverse the effects of RU-486. Please tell everyone about
it - you could save a life!FOOTNOTE: CLQ has it on reliable
authority that at least 10 girls a week have been contacting at
least one of the abortion businesses down south that had issued
them these abortion pills, asking for help to stop the abortion
drugs from working as they had changed their minds! The girls are
fobbed off after being told it was too late or your baby will be
deformed etc. Circulate this website - abortionpillreversal.com -
to increase public awareness that RU-486 can be reversed.
Paul Ninnes - REAL TalkPaul Ninnes is the Managing Director of
Real Talk (www.realtalkaustralia.com). Real Talk (RT) gets real on
the topics of sex, relationships and personal identity with the
content of their presentations based on Christian values. Aimed and
implemented for students in (mostly) high schools, they help young
people be all they were created to be, encouraging them to reassess
poor decisions in relation to sex. Paul openly explains to the
students that In sexual intimacy our bodies have a language it
means something. We are saying something significant with our
bodies. This statement makes a deep impact on the students. The
students are excited and encouraged when they are presented with
the truth that their lives will flourish in the fullness of healthy
relationships, said Paul.
Young people are encouraged to see that their life is a gift and
sacred, that we are all created in the image and likeness of God,
and that they are set apart for a special purpose, Paul said,
stating Many students have never heard this message in a compelling
way.
The RT team has grown from 2 to over 20 staff, as well as
volunteers, in just four years. There is also a recently formed RT
team in New Zealand. Pauls co-presenter is Kym Keady. Paul
mentioned the beautiful explanation Kym gave her then very young
daughter as to why she was here. She had told her, God looked down
on the world and saw someone was missing and created you. Kyms
reply applies to all of us.
Paul ORourke - Our ads change heartsPaul is the CEO of Emilys
Voice (www.emilysvoice.com), an organisation started in Toowoomba
seven years ago. Two years later they started running life-friendly
ads on local TV in the Toowoomba/Darling Downs area. The ads use
real people telling their own life stories in 30 seconds. The aim
of the ads is to influence culture to change the way people think
so that they change the way they behave, Paul said. The ads have
also been run in Tasmania and are having a great impact in both
areas. After the general public have seen the ads, polling has
found:
7% in the Darling Downs and 11% in Tasmania of all those polled
said they had changed their position on abortion. In the 16-24 year
old age group, 22% in the Darling Downs and 25% in Tasmania have
said they had changed their minds on abortion. Some of the women
polled said they had continued their pregnancies and birthed their
babies due to seeing the Emilys Voice ads.
The goal is to run the ads nationally with the next campaign to
be on the Sunshine Coast and in Bundaberg, as well as in Western
Australia. These ads are changing hearts and minds and, as the
tagline on their ad website (www.notbornyet.com) states, are
helping Australians fall in love with the unborn.
Teresa Streckfuss - Why carry a dying child?Teresa Streckfuss is
married and lives in Melbourne with her husband and their lovely
children. Teresa was first exposed to anencephaly in 1996 when her
sister and husband had baby Thomas Walter born with that condition.
Sadly he lived for only 17 hours. Anencephaly occurs approximately
once in 1000 births. The condition is due to the head of the neural
tube not closing properly. This causes the top of the skull, higher
brain and scalp to not form properly. Taking folic acid supplements
(costing around $5 for a 3 month supply) both before and during
pregnancy can help prevent this problem in many, though not all,
situations.
Teresa and her husband had two children (3 years old and 19
months old) when baby Benedict was born with anencephaly. Abortion
was suggested by the medical professionals but totally rejected by
the Streckfusses. Teresa said that they had 2-3 weeks of deep grief
after the diagnosis. She stressed the point that that is the
time when people make choices that they are not in a clear
mental state to make. The feelings of fear, confusion and grief
ease somewhat after this time and one is better able to think
clearly, she said.
Teresa found that the medical staff were very helpful but only
AFTER the Streckfusses had made it clear they wouldnt abort their
baby. Baby Benedict was born via C-section and lived for 24 hrs and
13 minutes. He was baptised and confirmed during that time. Teresa
stated, Benedict spent his whole life in the arms of people who
loved him. After baby Benedict, they had another baby born healthy
then found themselves unexpectedly pregnant again. Teresa had some
concerns as she had not been taking folic acid regularly. Sadly, an
ultrasound later in the pregnancy showed this baby too, had
anencephaly. The radiographer, assuming that they would abort
stated, Unfortunately we cant diagnose this earlier implying that
if they could, it would have given the Streckfusses the opportunity
to abort!
Baby Charlotte, born three years after Benedict, was also
immediately baptised and confirmed. To their joy, baby Charlotte
lived for six whole days. During that time she tracked light with
her eyes, and startled at noise and camera flashes. She showed she
was hungry by swallowing expressed breast milk squeezed into her
mouth. They were blessed to be able to take Charlotte home for what
was, sadly, to be her final night. Like Benedict, Charlotte too
spent her entire life being surrounded by people who loved her.
Teresa found that many in the medical profession she dealt with
couldnt understand why she would carry a dying child. While still
pregnant with Charlotte, she penned an open letter* to the medical
professionals explaining why. A copy of the letter found its way to
the Herald Sun newspaper and they published it. Teresa and her
husband have no regrets about carrying their dying babies to term
and know their lives are enriched for having loved Benedict and
Charlotte. Their story also features in Melinda Tankard Reists book
Defiant Birth which is available from CLQ $35 plus p&h.
Bobby Schindler Where theres Life, theres Hope In the United
States, it is a crime to starve dogs to death, but we do it to
humans. How did we get to this point? asked Bobby, founder of the
Life & Hope Network in the US. He stated Wesley J Smith, a
well-known opponent of euthanasia, has written about German doctors
killing mentally and physically imperfect people, and that this is
happening in many places around the world today. At that time,
Dutch doctors were not allowing it to happen in the Netherlands,
but this has changed with most doctors embracing it with 60% saying
they had intentionally fatally injected a patient. Only 14% said
they could not conceive of it. 40% said they hadnt but would if
they had to. Bobby quoted Smith, Once killing is accepted as the
answer to human difficulty and suffering, logic dictates there is
no end.The right to die movement has targeted feeding tubes,
defining them as medical treatment instead of
human care, Bobby said. Daniel Calahan, an ethicist, was behind
the push for this change as in Calahans words, it is the only
effective way that biologically tenacious patients would die.
Others have started to agree with him and are now even targeting
those who dont need a feeding tube, but just need help to feed
themselves!, Bobby said, In Canada a family petitioned a nursing
home to starve their mother to death. Luckily in this case the
court denied it.
We now have the situation where a person can be classified as a
human non-person meaning they are human but not a person! This
classification includes all embryos, foetuses, infants, those with
Alzheimers or cognitive problems, or those who are incapacitated.
Intelligent animals are now considered persons and these animal
persons have more value than human non-persons! Bobby said.
The Life & Hope Network (www.terrisfight.org) Bobby founded
in America is set up to help families fight for good care for their
relatives who have an acquired brain injury. They are currently
raising money for a purpose-built facility to care for those who
need ongoing expert medical help.
Bobby Schindler Terri Schiavo: My Sister, Her LifeBobby
Schindler is the brother of Terri Schiavo who was starved and
dehydrated to death in Florida, USA. Bobby now lives in Cincinatti,
Ohio, with his wife Kristina and nine children. He is the founder
of the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network in America which was
born from that situation. Bobby spoke twice at the conference - the
first time about his sister and what led to her death, and the
second time on the Life & Hope Network.
My sister Terri Schiavo was NOT dying, nor hooked up to
machines, stated Bobby. He explained that Terri was a shy girl who
loved animals, was loyal and had a good sense of humour. He
recounted how Terri
married Michael Schiavo within a year of meeting him. In 1991,
just a few years into the marriage, Terri collapsed in the middle
of the night at home. No one seems to know what caused the
collapse, nor why it took Schiavo quite some time to call Terris
father which he did first, before calling the paramedics!
For the first few weeks after the collapse, Terri was on a
ventilator but was taken off within a few weeks as she improved.
Terri was NOT in a coma, Bobby stressed, though she had an acquired
brain injury as she had been without oxygen for several minutes.
All Terri needed was food and water, not life support. Schiavo was
her legal guardian and 100% responsible for her care. He initially
allowed Terri to have therapy and rehab and she was starting to
regain her ability to speak. Schiavo wanted $20 million for her
ongoing care and in 1992, Terri was awarded $1.5m and he was
awarded $600,000. It was at this point that Schiavo discontinued
therapy and told us, the Schindler family, that we would not have
any say in her ongoing care, Bobby said.
Horrifyingly, in 1993 Schiavo went on a mission to end Terris
life, starting with refusing antibiotics for a routine infection
Terri had acquired. All the while he was living with another woman
who, during this time, he had two children with. In 1998, he
petitioned the state of Florida to remove Terris feeding tube and
water. We, her family, were stunned. Naively we didnt think there
was a judge in the land who would rule in his favour, Bobby said.
However they soon found that they were wrong. So even though there
was a huge conflict of interest (Schiavo living with another woman
and standing to receive the trust money when Terri died), the court
granted Schiavos request.Though there was no evidence to back it
up, Schiavo had told the court that Terri had once told him that
she didnt want to live this way. With some of the doctors on
Schiavos side saying Terri had no quality of life, all therapy was
stopped in 1992. With brain injury, if rehab is stopped, there is a
quick backslide in a brain-injured persons condition, Bobby
said.
For five years we fought to save Terris life, Bobby said,
stating Pope John Paul II had become involved to help, as had then
President George W Bush, along with other high profile people
including Jeb Bush (brother of the president) then Governor of
Florida, and Father Frank Pavone from Priests for Life. Sadly they
had no support from the local bishop Robert Lynch.
To visit Terri, we had to go through three checkpoints of
police, there were even police on the roof as well as armed police
in her room. We were told that if we even applied lipgloss on her
lips, we would be arrested, Bobby said.On 18 March 2005, her
feeding tube was removed and after 2 weeks without food or water,
Terri died on 31 March 2005. Watching Terri die by this most
barbaric and inhumane way possible was haunting. Terri looked
terrible as her body was dehydrating. She endured horrendous
suffering, Bobby said.
On the tenth anniversary of Terris death, Bobby had a picture
image created from his memory of what Terri had looked like (as
they were not allowed to take photographs) at her death. Those
fighting for her to die said it was a peaceful death - the image
shows anything but! You must remember that we are talking here
about killing people who are NOT dying, who are relatively healthy
but need a feeding tube to feed and hydrate them. They may have
difficulty swallowing but need nothing else to live, he said. Bobby
ended his talk by showing a video of Terri and their family growing
up with the background music of the song You are so beautiful to me
by singer Joe Cocker. Bobby has written a book, Terri Schiavo: A
Life That Matters, detailing what happened to Terri. The book is
available from CLQ - $25 plus p&h.
Volume 43 Issue 2 June 2015 Page 2Cherish Life Newsletter Volume
43 Issue 2 June 2015 Page 3 Volume 43 Issue 2 June 2015 Page
4Cherish Life Newsletter
*See p1
L to R: Carol OConnell (president Atherton Tablelands
branch),
Barry Kirby (president Bundaberg branch), Margaret Smith
(president Emerald branch), Michael Punshon
(president Townsville branch), Julie Borger (president
Redcliffe/
Northern Suburbs branch), Dr Donna Purcell (president
Toowoomba branch), Teresa Martin (State President), Wendy
Cumming
(representing Mackay branch), Fiona Hunter (vice-president
Gold
Coast branch), Noelle Melrose (president Rockhampton branch
Noelle did a great job as MC at the Conference).
Representatives
from Cairns, Gladstone, Gympie, Nambour and Warwick were
unable to be there on the day.
Cherish Life Newsletter
Cutting the cake celebrating 45 years of our pro-life
organisation
-
Carolyn Mongan - All in the name of choiceCarolyn Mongan is a
counsellor with Pregnancy Support in Canberra, ACT. The Australian
Capital Territory was the first to legalise abortion and the rest
of the other states in Australia are a court case away from the
same happening there, Carolyn warned. She pointed out that in
George Orwells book 1984 it shows how words are deliberately
constructed for political purposes desired to impart a particular
attitude in the people using them, and to influence those around
them. This is where we are now in the public arena re abortion and
euthanasia. It is important that we dont accidentally help the
pro-abortion lobby by default by making a statement like No
abortion on demand when we should be saying No to abortion, Carolyn
said.
Carolyn showed some beautiful pictures of babies saved from
abortion when their mothers chose life after contacting Pregnancy
Support. She also showed an ultrasound image that was particularly
touching as it was
of a baby whose mother had taken the first drug of the RU-486
abortion process before changing her mind. The ultrasound indicates
the baby does not appear to have been harmed from the abortion
drug, and though unborn at the time of the conference, seems to be
doing well.
FOOTNOTE: We have recently seen a photo of the still-pregnant
mum proudly smiling and profiling her baby bump belly. Please
continue to keep this young mum, her husband and their pre-born
baby in your prayers.
Dr Terry Kent - RU-486 can be reversed!Dr Terry Kent is a
General Practitioner at Raceview with a special interest in NaPro
Technology (NPT) and fertility care (www.fertilitycare.com.au). Dr
Kent studied NPT at the Pope Paul VI Institute in Omaha, Nebraska,
USA. NaPro stands for Natural Procreative technology that works
co-operatively with the bodys natural procreative cycles. It does
not suppress the bodys reproductive system, but
enhances its function. His topic was RU-486 can be reversed! and
he explained how this could be done and has been done using NPT. Dr
Kent broke down what would have been a complicated explanation
about the functioning and harms of RU-486. He stated:
In the RU-486 abortion pill regiment (used to abort babies up to
49 days or 7 weeks gestation), Mifepristone is given first - this
shuts down the babys nutrition source. This is followed by
Misoprostal which causes contractions to expel the unborn baby.
Dr Matthew Harrison in the USA had the first known successful
reversal of the abortion pill by using a regime of natural
progesterone. In simple terms, natural progesterone supplementation
stops the uterus from contracting and can help prevent
miscarriages.
89 successful reversals of the RU-486 abortion process have
taken place where the mothers have only taken the first part of the
drug regime - Mifepristone - with a 60% success rate of the babies
being born perfectly fine. If the second abortion pill has been
taken, there is a 4%-12% risk of abnormality.
Dr Kent had a case a few months ago where he treated a young
woman with natural progesterone after she had taken the first
abortion drug. This halted the process and he was happy to state
that this young womans pregnancy is progressing well.
The website abortionpillreversal.com is very helpful in giving
women information, and points them to medical professionals that
can help reverse the effects of RU-486. Please tell everyone about
it - you could save a life!FOOTNOTE: CLQ has it on reliable
authority that at least 10 girls a week have been contacting at
least one of the abortion businesses down south that had issued
them these abortion pills, asking for help to stop the abortion
drugs from working as they had changed their minds! The girls are
fobbed off after being told it was too late or your baby will be
deformed etc. Circulate this website - abortionpillreversal.com -
to increase public awareness that RU-486 can be reversed.
Paul Ninnes - REAL TalkPaul Ninnes is the Managing Director of
Real Talk (www.realtalkaustralia.com). Real Talk (RT) gets real on
the topics of sex, relationships and personal identity with the
content of their presentations based on Christian values. Aimed and
implemented for students in (mostly) high schools, they help young
people be all they were created to be, encouraging them to reassess
poor decisions in relation to sex. Paul openly explains to the
students that In sexual intimacy our bodies have a language it
means something. We are saying something significant with our
bodies. This statement makes a deep impact on the students. The
students are excited and encouraged when they are presented with
the truth that their lives will flourish in the fullness of healthy
relationships, said Paul.
Young people are encouraged to see that their life is a gift and
sacred, that we are all created in the image and likeness of God,
and that they are set apart for a special purpose, Paul said,
stating Many students have never heard this message in a compelling
way.
The RT team has grown from 2 to over 20 staff, as well as
volunteers, in just four years. There is also a recently formed RT
team in New Zealand. Pauls co-presenter is Kym Keady. Paul
mentioned the beautiful explanation Kym gave her then very young
daughter as to why she was here. She had told her, God looked down
on the world and saw someone was missing and created you. Kyms
reply applies to all of us.
Paul ORourke - Our ads change heartsPaul is the CEO of Emilys
Voice (www.emilysvoice.com), an organisation started in Toowoomba
seven years ago. Two years later they started running life-friendly
ads on local TV in the Toowoomba/Darling Downs area. The ads use
real people telling their own life stories in 30 seconds. The aim
of the ads is to influence culture to change the way people think
so that they change the way they behave, Paul said. The ads have
also been run in Tasmania and are having a great impact in both
areas. After the general public have seen the ads, polling has
found:
7% in the Darling Downs and 11% in Tasmania of all those polled
said they had changed their position on abortion. In the 16-24 year
old age group, 22% in the Darling Downs and 25% in Tasmania have
said they had changed their minds on abortion. Some of the women
polled said they had continued their pregnancies and birthed their
babies due to seeing the Emilys Voice ads.
The goal is to run the ads nationally with the next campaign to
be on the Sunshine Coast and in Bundaberg, as well as in Western
Australia. These ads are changing hearts and minds and, as the
tagline on their ad website (www.notbornyet.com) states, are
helping Australians fall in love with the unborn.
Teresa Streckfuss - Why carry a dying child?Teresa Streckfuss is
married and lives in Melbourne with her husband and their lovely
children. Teresa was first exposed to anencephaly in 1996 when her
sister and husband had baby Thomas Walter born with that condition.
Sadly he lived for only 17 hours. Anencephaly occurs approximately
once in 1000 births. The condition is due to the head of the neural
tube not closing properly. This causes the top of the skull, higher
brain and scalp to not form properly. Taking folic acid supplements
(costing around $5 for a 3 month supply) both before and during
pregnancy can help prevent this problem in many, though not all,
situations.
Teresa and her husband had two children (3 years old and 19
months old) when baby Benedict was born with anencephaly. Abortion
was suggested by the medical professionals but totally rejected by
the Streckfusses. Teresa said that they had 2-3 weeks of deep grief
after the diagnosis. She stressed the point that that is the
time when people make choices that they are not in a clear
mental state to make. The feelings of fear, confusion and grief
ease somewhat after this time and one is better able to think
clearly, she said.
Teresa found that the medical staff were very helpful but only
AFTER the Streckfusses had made it clear they wouldnt abort their
baby. Baby Benedict was born via C-section and lived for 24 hrs and
13 minutes. He was baptised and confirmed during that time. Teresa
stated, Benedict spent his whole life in the arms of people who
loved him. After baby Benedict, they had another baby born healthy
then found themselves unexpectedly pregnant again. Teresa had some
concerns as she had not been taking folic acid regularly. Sadly, an
ultrasound later in the pregnancy showed this baby too, had
anencephaly. The radiographer, assuming that they would abort
stated, Unfortunately we cant diagnose this earlier implying that
if they could, it would have given the Streckfusses the opportunity
to abort!
Baby Charlotte, born three years after Benedict, was also
immediately baptised and confirmed. To their joy, baby Charlotte
lived for six whole days. During that time she tracked light with
her eyes, and startled at noise and camera flashes. She showed she
was hungry by swallowing expressed breast milk squeezed into her
mouth. They were blessed to be able to take Charlotte home for what
was, sadly, to be her final night. Like Benedict, Charlotte too
spent her entire life being surrounded by people who loved her.
Teresa found that many in the medical profession she dealt with
couldnt understand why she would carry a dying child. While still
pregnant with Charlotte, she penned an open letter* to the medical
professionals explaining why. A copy of the letter found its way to
the Herald Sun newspaper and they published it. Teresa and her
husband have no regrets about carrying their dying babies to term
and know their lives are enriched for having loved Benedict and
Charlotte. Their story also features in Melinda Tankard Reists book
Defiant Birth which is available from CLQ $35 plus p&h.
Bobby Schindler Where theres Life, theres Hope In the United
States, it is a crime to starve dogs to death, but we do it to
humans. How did we get to this point? asked Bobby, founder of the
Life & Hope Network in the US. He stated Wesley J Smith, a
well-known opponent of euthanasia, has written about German doctors
killing mentally and physically imperfect people, and that this is
happening in many places around the world today. At that time,
Dutch doctors were not allowing it to happen in the Netherlands,
but this has changed with most doctors embracing it with 60% saying
they had intentionally fatally injected a patient. Only 14% said
they could not conceive of it. 40% said they hadnt but would if
they had to. Bobby quoted Smith, Once killing is accepted as the
answer to human difficulty and suffering, logic dictates there is
no end.The right to die movement has targeted feeding tubes,
defining them as medical treatment instead of
human care, Bobby said. Daniel Calahan, an ethicist, was behind
the push for this change as in Calahans words, it is the only
effective way that biologically tenacious patients would die.
Others have started to agree with him and are now even targeting
those who dont need a feeding tube, but just need help to feed
themselves!, Bobby said, In Canada a family petitioned a nursing
home to starve their mother to death. Luckily in this case the
court denied it.
We now have the situation where a person can be classified as a
human non-person meaning they are human but not a person! This
classification includes all embryos, foetuses, infants, those with
Alzheimers or cognitive problems, or those who are incapacitated.
Intelligent animals are now considered persons and these animal
persons have more value than human non-persons! Bobby said.
The Life & Hope Network (www.terrisfight.org) Bobby founded
in America is set up to help families fight for good care for their
relatives who have an acquired brain injury. They are currently
raising money for a purpose-built facility to care for those who
need ongoing expert medical help.
Bobby Schindler Terri Schiavo: My Sister, Her LifeBobby
Schindler is the brother of Terri Schiavo who was starved and
dehydrated to death in Florida, USA. Bobby now lives in Cincinatti,
Ohio, with his wife Kristina and nine children. He is the founder
of the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network in America which was
born from that situation. Bobby spoke twice at the conference - the
first time about his sister and what led to her death, and the
second time on the Life & Hope Network.
My sister Terri Schiavo was NOT dying, nor hooked up to
machines, stated Bobby. He explained that Terri was a shy girl who
loved animals, was loyal and had a good sense of humour. He
recounted how Terri
married Michael Schiavo within a year of meeting him. In 1991,
just a few years into the marriage, Terri collapsed in the middle
of the night at home. No one seems to know what caused the
collapse, nor why it took Schiavo quite some time to call Terris
father which he did first, before calling the paramedics!
For the first few weeks after the collapse, Terri was on a
ventilator but was taken off within a few weeks as she improved.
Terri was NOT in a coma, Bobby stressed, though she had an acquired
brain injury as she had been without oxygen for several minutes.
All Terri needed was food and water, not life support. Schiavo was
her legal guardian and 100% responsible for her care. He initially
allowed Terri to have therapy and rehab and she was starting to
regain her ability to speak. Schiavo wanted $20 million for her
ongoing care and in 1992, Terri was awarded $1.5m and he was
awarded $600,000. It was at this point that Schiavo discontinued
therapy and told us, the Schindler family, that we would not have
any say in her ongoing care, Bobby said.
Horrifyingly, in 1993 Schiavo went on a mission to end Terris
life, starting with refusing antibiotics for a routine infection
Terri had acquired. All the while he was living with another woman
who, during this time, he had two children with. In 1998, he
petitioned the state of Florida to remove Terris feeding tube and
water. We, her family, were stunned. Naively we didnt think there
was a judge in the land who would rule in his favour, Bobby said.
However they soon found that they were wrong. So even though there
was a huge conflict of interest (Schiavo living with another woman
and standing to receive the trust money when Terri died), the court
granted Schiavos request.Though there was no evidence to back it
up, Schiavo had told the court that Terri had once told him that
she didnt want to live this way. With some of the doctors on
Schiavos side saying Terri had no quality of life, all therapy was
stopped in 1992. With brain injury, if rehab is stopped, there is a
quick backslide in a brain-injured persons condition, Bobby
said.
For five years we fought to save Terris life, Bobby said,
stating Pope John Paul II had become involved to help, as had then
President George W Bush, along with other high profile people
including Jeb Bush (brother of the president) then Governor of
Florida, and Father Frank Pavone from Priests for Life. Sadly they
had no support from the local bishop Robert Lynch.
To visit Terri, we had to go through three checkpoints of
police, there were even police on the roof as well as armed police
in her room. We were told that if we even applied lipgloss on her
lips, we would be arrested, Bobby said.On 18 March 2005, her
feeding tube was removed and after 2 weeks without food or water,
Terri died on 31 March 2005. Watching Terri die by this most
barbaric and inhumane way possible was haunting. Terri looked
terrible as her body was dehydrating. She endured horrendous
suffering, Bobby said.
On the tenth anniversary of Terris death, Bobby had a picture
image created from his memory of what Terri had looked like (as
they were not allowed to take photographs) at her death. Those
fighting for her to die said it was a peaceful death - the image
shows anything but! You must remember that we are talking here
about killing people who are NOT dying, who are relatively healthy
but need a feeding tube to feed and hydrate them. They may have
difficulty swallowing but need nothing else to live, he said. Bobby
ended his talk by showing a video of Terri and their family growing
up with the background music of the song You are so beautiful to me
by singer Joe Cocker. Bobby has written a book, Terri Schiavo: A
Life That Matters, detailing what happened to Terri. The book is
available from CLQ - $25 plus p&h.
Volume 43 Issue 2 June 2015 Page 2Cherish Life Newsletter Volume
43 Issue 2 June 2015 Page 3 Volume 43 Issue 2 June 2015 Page
4Cherish Life Newsletter
*See p1
L to R: Carol OConnell (president Atherton Tablelands
branch),
Barry Kirby (president Bundaberg branch), Margaret Smith
(president Emerald branch), Michael Punshon
(president Townsville branch), Julie Borger (president
Redcliffe/
Northern Suburbs branch), Dr Donna Purcell (president
Toowoomba branch), Teresa Martin (State President), Wendy
Cumming
(representing Mackay branch), Fiona Hunter (vice-president
Gold
Coast branch), Noelle Melrose (president Rockhampton branch
Noelle did a great job as MC at the Conference).
Representatives
from Cairns, Gladstone, Gympie, Nambour and Warwick were
unable to be there on the day.
Cherish Life Newsletter
Cutting the cake celebrating 45 years of our pro-life
organisation
-
Carolyn Mongan - All in the name of choiceCarolyn Mongan is a
counsellor with Pregnancy Support in Canberra, ACT. The Australian
Capital Territory was the first to legalise abortion and the rest
of the other states in Australia are a court case away from the
same happening there, Carolyn warned. She pointed out that in
George Orwells book 1984 it shows how words are deliberately
constructed for political purposes desired to impart a particular
attitude in the people using them, and to influence those around
them. This is where we are now in the public arena re abortion and
euthanasia. It is important that we dont accidentally help the
pro-abortion lobby by default by making a statement like No
abortion on demand when we should be saying No to abortion, Carolyn
said.
Carolyn showed some beautiful pictures of babies saved from
abortion when their mothers chose life after contacting Pregnancy
Support. She also showed an ultrasound image that was particularly
touching as it was
of a baby whose mother had taken the first drug of the RU-486
abortion process before changing her mind. The ultrasound indicates
the baby does not appear to have been harmed from the abortion
drug, and though unborn at the time of the conference, seems to be
doing well.
FOOTNOTE: We have recently seen a photo of the still-pregnant
mum proudly smiling and profiling her baby bump belly. Please
continue to keep this young mum, her husband and their pre-born
baby in your prayers.
Dr Terry Kent - RU-486 can be reversed!Dr Terry Kent is a
General Practitioner at Raceview with a special interest in NaPro
Technology (NPT) and fertility care (www.fertilitycare.com.au). Dr
Kent studied NPT at the Pope Paul VI Institute in Omaha, Nebraska,
USA. NaPro stands for Natural Procreative technology that works
co-operatively with the bodys natural procreative cycles. It does
not suppress the bodys reproductive system, but
enhances its function. His topic was RU-486 can be reversed! and
he explained how this could be done and has been done using NPT. Dr
Kent broke down what would have been a complicated explanation
about the functioning and harms of RU-486. He stated:
In the RU-486 abortion pill regiment (used to abort babies up to
49 days or 7 weeks gestation), Mifepristone is given first - this
shuts down the babys nutrition source. This is followed by
Misoprostal which causes contractions to expel the unborn baby.
Dr Matthew Harrison in the USA had the first known successful
reversal of the abortion pill by using a regime of natural
progesterone. In simple terms, natural progesterone supplementation
stops the uterus from contracting and can help prevent
miscarriages.
89 successful reversals of the RU-486 abortion process have
taken place where the mothers have only taken the first part of the
drug regime - Mifepristone - with a 60% success rate of the babies
being born perfectly fine. If the second abortion pill has been
taken, there is a 4%-12% risk of abnormality.
Dr Kent had a case a few months ago where he treated a young
woman with natural progesterone after she had taken the first
abortion drug. This halted the process and he was happy to state
that this young womans pregnancy is progressing well.
The website abortionpillreversal.com is very helpful in giving
women information, and points them to medical professionals that
can help reverse the effects of RU-486. Please tell everyone about
it - you could save a life!FOOTNOTE: CLQ has it on reliable
authority that at least 10 girls a week have been contacting at
least one of the abortion businesses down south that had issued
them these abortion pills, asking for help to stop the abortion
drugs from working as they had changed their minds! The girls are
fobbed off after being told it was too late or your baby will be
deformed etc. Circulate this website - abortionpillreversal.com -
to increase public awareness that RU-486 can be reversed.
Paul Ninnes - REAL TalkPaul Ninnes is the Managing Director of
Real Talk (www.realtalkaustralia.com). Real Talk (RT) gets real on
the topics of sex, relationships and personal identity with the
content of their presentations based on Christian values. Aimed and
implemented for students in (mostly) high schools, they help young
people be all they were created to be, encouraging them to reassess
poor decisions in relation to sex. Paul openly explains to the
students that In sexual intimacy our bodies have a language it
means something. We are saying something significant with our
bodies. This statement makes a deep impact on the students. The
students are excited and encouraged when they are presented with
the truth that their lives will flourish in the fullness of healthy
relationships, said Paul.
Young people are encouraged to see that their life is a gift and
sacred, that we are all created in the image and likeness of God,
and that they are set apart for a special purpose, Paul said,
stating Many students have never heard this message in a compelling
way.
The RT team has grown from 2 to over 20 staff, as well as
volunteers, in just four years. There is also a recently formed RT
team in New Zealand. Pauls co-presenter is Kym Keady. Paul
mentioned the beautiful explanation Kym gave her then very young
daughter as to why she was here. She had told her, God looked down
on the world and saw someone was missing and created you. Kyms
reply applies to all of us.
Paul ORourke - Our ads change heartsPaul is the CEO of Emilys
Voice (www.emilysvoice.com), an organisation started in Toowoomba
seven years ago. Two years later they started running life-friendly
ads on local TV in the Toowoomba/Darling Downs area. The ads use
real people telling their own life stories in 30 seconds. The aim
of the ads is to influence culture to change the way people think
so that they change the way they behave, Paul said. The ads have
also been run in Tasmania and are having a great impact in both
areas. After the general public have seen the ads, polling has
found:
7% in the Darling Downs and 11% in Tasmania of all those polled
said they had changed their position on abortion. In the 16-24 year
old age group, 22% in the Darling Downs and 25% in Tasmania have
said they had changed their minds on abortion. Some of the women
polled said they had continued their pregnancies and birthed their
babies due to seeing the Emilys Voice ads.
The goal is to run the ads nationally with the next campaign to
be on the Sunshine Coast and in Bundaberg, as well as in Western
Australia. These ads are changing hearts and minds and, as the
tagline on their ad website (www.notbornyet.com) states, are
helping Australians fall in love with the unborn.
Teresa Streckfuss - Why carry a dying child?Teresa Streckfuss is
married and lives in Melbourne with her husband and their lovely
children. Teresa was first exposed to anencephaly in 1996 when her
sister and husband had baby Thomas Walter born with that condition.
Sadly he lived for only 17 hours. Anencephaly occurs approximately
once in 1000 births. The condition is due to the head of the neural
tube not closing properly. This causes the top of the skull, higher
brain and scalp to not form properly. Taking folic acid supplements
(costing around $5 for a 3 month supply) both before and during
pregnancy can help prevent this problem in many, though not all,
situations.
Teresa and her husband had two children (3 years old and 19
months old) when baby Benedict was born with anencephaly. Abortion
was suggested by the medical professionals but totally rejected by
the Streckfusses. Teresa said that they had 2-3 weeks of deep grief
after the diagnosis. She stressed the point that that is the
time when people make choices that they are not in a clear
mental state to make. The feelings of fear, confusion and grief
ease somewhat after this time and one is better able to think
clearly, she said.
Teresa found that the medical staff were very helpful but only
AFTER the Streckfusses had made it clear they wouldnt abort their
baby. Baby Benedict was born via C-section and lived for 24 hrs and
13 minutes. He was baptised and confirmed during that time. Teresa
stated, Benedict spent his whole life in the arms of people who
loved him. After baby Benedict, they had another baby born healthy
then found themselves unexpectedly pregnant again. Teresa had some
concerns as she had not been taking folic acid regularly. Sadly, an
ultrasound later in the pregnancy showed this baby too, had
anencephaly. The radiographer, assuming that they would abort
stated, Unfortunately we cant diagnose this earlier implying that
if they could, it would have given the Streckfusses the opportunity
to abort!
Baby Charlotte, born three years after Benedict, was also
immediately baptised and confirmed. To their joy, baby Charlotte
lived for six whole days. During that time she tracked light with
her eyes, and startled at noise and camera flashes. She showed she
was hungry by swallowing expressed breast milk squeezed into her
mouth. They were blessed to be able to take Charlotte home for what
was, sadly, to be her final night. Like Benedict, Charlotte too
spent her entire life being surrounded by people who loved her.
Teresa found that many in the medical profession she dealt with
couldnt understand why she would carry a dying child. While still
pregnant with Charlotte, she penned an open letter* to the medical
professionals explaining why. A copy of the letter found its way to
the Herald Sun newspaper and they published it. Teresa and her
husband have no regrets about carrying their dying babies to term
and know their lives are enriched for having loved Benedict and
Charlotte. Their story also features in Melinda Tankard Reists book
Defiant Birth which is available from CLQ $35 plus p&h.
Bobby Schindler Where theres Life, theres Hope In the United
States, it is a crime to starve dogs to death, but we do it to
humans. How did we get to this point? asked Bobby, founder of the
Life & Hope Network in the US. He stated Wesley J Smith, a
well-known opponent of euthanasia, has written about German doctors
killing mentally and physically imperfect people, and that this is
happening in many places around the world today. At that time,
Dutch doctors were not allowing it to happen in the Netherlands,
but this has changed with most doctors embracing it with 60% saying
they had intentionally fatally injected a patient. Only 14% said
they could not conceive of it. 40% said they hadnt but would if
they had to. Bobby quoted Smith, Once killing is accepted as the
answer to human difficulty and suffering, logic dictates there is
no end.The right to die movement has targeted feeding tubes,
defining them as medical treatment instead of
human care, Bobby said. Daniel Calahan, an ethicist, was behind
the push for this change as in Calahans words, it is the only
effective way that biologically tenacious patients would die.
Others have started to agree with him and are now even targeting
those who dont need a feeding tube, but just need help to feed
themselves!, Bobby said, In Canada a family petitioned a nursing
home to starve their mother to death. Luckily in this case the
court denied it.
We now have the situation where a person can be classified as a
human non-person meaning they are human but not a person! This
classification includes all embryos, foetuses, infants, those with
Alzheimers or cognitive problems, or those who are incapacitated.
Intelligent animals are now considered persons and these animal
persons have more value than human non-persons! Bobby said.
The Life & Hope Network (www.terrisfight.org) Bobby founded
in America is set up to help families fight for good care for their
relatives who have an acquired brain injury. They are currently
raising money for a purpose-built facility to care for those who
need ongoing expert medical help.
Bobby Schindler Terri Schiavo: My Sister, Her LifeBobby
Schindler is the brother of Terri Schiavo who was starved and
dehydrated to death in Florida, USA. Bobby now lives in Cincinatti,
Ohio, with his wife Kristina and nine children. He is the founder
of the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network in America which was
born from that situation. Bobby spoke twice at the conference - the
first time about his sister and what led to her death, and the
second time on the Life & Hope Network.
My sister Terri Schiavo was NOT dying, nor hooked up to
machines, stated Bobby. He explained that Terri was a shy girl who
loved animals, was loyal and had a good sense of humour. He
recounted how Terri
married Michael Schiavo within a year of meeting him. In 1991,
just a few years into the marriage, Terri collapsed in the middle
of the night at home. No one seems to know what caused the
collapse, nor why it took Schiavo quite some time to call Terris
father which he did first, before calling the paramedics!
For the first few weeks after the collapse, Terri was on a
ventilator but was taken off within a few weeks as she improved.
Terri was NOT in a coma, Bobby stressed, though she had an acquired
brain injury as she had been without oxygen for several minutes.
All Terri needed was food and water, not life support. Schiavo was
her legal guardian and 100% responsible for her care. He initially
allowed Terri to have therapy and rehab and she was starting to
regain her ability to speak. Schiavo wanted $20 million for her
ongoing care and in 1992, Terri was awarded $1.5m and he was
awarded $600,000. It was at this point that Schiavo discontinued
therapy and told us, the Schindler family, that we would not have
any say in her ongoing care, Bobby said.
Horrifyingly, in 1993 Schiavo went on a mission to end Terris
life, starting with refusing antibiotics for a routine infection
Terri had acquired. All the while he was living with another woman
who, during this time, he had two children with. In 1998, he
petitioned the state of Florida to remove Terris feeding tube and
water. We, her family, were stunned. Naively we didnt think there
was a judge in the land who would rule in his favour, Bobby said.
However they soon found that they were wrong. So even though there
was a huge conflict of interest (Schiavo living with another woman
and standing to receive the trust money when Terri died), the court
granted Schiavos request.Though there was no evidence to back it
up, Schiavo had told the court that Terri had once told him that
she didnt want to live this way. With some of the doctors on
Schiavos side saying Terri had no quality of life, all therapy was
stopped in 1992. With brain injury, if rehab is stopped, there is a
quick backslide in a brain-injured persons condition, Bobby
said.
For five years we fought to save Terris life, Bobby said,
stating Pope John Paul II had become involved to help, as had then
President George W Bush, along with other high profile people
including Jeb Bush (brother of the president) then Governor of
Florida, and Father Frank Pavone from Priests for Life. Sadly they
had no support from the local bishop Robert Lynch.
To visit Terri, we had to go through three checkpoints of
police, there were even police on the roof as well as armed police
in her room. We were told that if we even applied lipgloss on her
lips, we would be arrested, Bobby said.On 18 March 2005, her
feeding tube was removed and after 2 weeks without food or water,
Terri died on 31 March 2005. Watching Terri die by this most
barbaric and inhumane way possible was haunting. Terri looked
terrible as her body was dehydrating. She endured horrendous
suffering, Bobby said.
On the tenth anniversary of Terris death, Bobby had a picture
image created from his memory of what Terri had looked like (as
they were not allowed to take photographs) at her death. Those
fighting for her to die said it was a peaceful death - the image
shows anything but! You must remember that we are talking here
about killing people who are NOT dying, who are relatively healthy
but need a feeding tube to feed and hydrate them. They may have
difficulty swallowing but need nothing else to live, he said. Bobby
ended his talk by showing a video of Terri and their family growing
up with the background music of the song You are so beautiful to me
by singer Joe Cocker. Bobby has written a book, Terri Schiavo: A
Life That Matters, detailing what happened to Terri. The book is
available from CLQ - $25 plus p&h.
Volume 43 Issue 2 June 2015 Page 2Cherish Life Newsletter Volume
43 Issue 2 June 2015 Page 3 Volume 43 Issue 2 June 2015 Page
4Cherish Life Newsletter
*See p1
L to R: Carol OConnell (president Atherton Tablelands
branch),
Barry Kirby (president Bundaberg branch), Margaret Smith
(president Emerald branch), Michael Punshon
(president Townsville branch), Julie Borger (president
Redcliffe/
Northern Suburbs branch), Dr Donna Purcell (president
Toowoomba branch), Teresa Martin (State President), Wendy
Cumming
(representing Mackay branch), Fiona Hunter (vice-president
Gold
Coast branch), Noelle Melrose (president Rockhampton branch
Noelle did a great job as MC at the Conference).
Representatives
from Cairns, Gladstone, Gympie, Nambour and Warwick were
unable to be there on the day.
Cherish Life Newsletter
Cutting the cake celebrating 45 years of our pro-life
organisation
-
Many of you may have wondered, Whats the point?... or perhaps
pitied us for having to continue carrying a child who is not going
to live for long... I understand these thoughts, because when my
sister was carrying Thomas Walter (who had been diagnosed with
anencephaly at 18 weeks and lived for 17 hours after birth) I
really didnt properly comprehend the whole situation. I knew it was
the right thing to do. I didnt question that I would have no other
option if the same thing ever happened to me (although I knew it
never would!) But I thought how awful it was to know for over four
months that the child you are carrying is unable to live outside
your womb.
Once he was born, I was able to hold my nephew and see him
finally as a real person - a precious unique creation - I began to
realise that there was a lot more to it than mere ethics. When,
much to my disbelief, my own baby, Benedict, was diagnosed with
this same condition four years later - I was finally able to grasp
it, although it has taken me a long time to be able to put my
thoughts into words. It is only since Charlottes diagnosis that I
have found words that almost convey my feelings.
Some people think we carried Benedict and Charlotte to term
because we dont agree with abortion, because we are Catholic, or
perhaps because our nephew was carried to term after a fatal
diagnosis. While these factors probably all played a part in our
immediate refusal of the option to terminate, this is not what its
all about! Its about love! Its about my baby! Its not about some
tragic, fatal medical condition - its about my child. We do not
possess more strength than other people. Its not because we can
cope where others wouldnt. There is no way to avoid the sad fact
that she cannot live long after birth with this condition, but
causing Charlotte to die earlier will not stop this happening.
Causing her to die earlier will only take from us the beautiful
experience of knowing and loving her.
The tragedy is not the fact that we know our baby will die. The
tragedy is that our baby will die. It is not nice to know for
months beforehand, but it gives us a chance to appreciate a life so
brief, and not to miss a moment.
The value of Thomas Walter, Benedict and Charlotte cannot be
measured by the length of their lives - we dont apply this
yardstick to adults, so why should we to babies? A baby is not a
possession, an accessory to acquire. A baby is a gift, a new
entity, a precious, individual soul loved by God. We are created
for a purpose, there is a reason for our being here. Even if that
reason is unclear to us most of the time, we are constantly
affecting other people in our families, communities etc. Who knows
what purpose can be fulfilled in 9 months and one day? I dont know,
but God does. I do know that Benedict left a lasting impression on
our family, he made us slow down, savour life, and treasure our
other children even more. He made us realise that we cannot control
or predict what will happen in the future, he made us rely on God.
And how often are we given the opportunity to really give another
person true unconditional love? Love that truly expects no return?
It is a blessing to experience that kind of pure love!
So dont pity us for carrying a child we know will die. Carrying
this beautiful person is an honour. Grieve for the fact that our
baby will die. We wouldnt wish away the time we had with Benedict,
and also this time we are now experiencing with Charlotte, just to
save us the pain of losing them. Ive always thought of it like
this; if your 3 year old was diagnosed with untreatable, fatal
cancer and had only 4 months to live; would you prefer the doctor
kill your child straight away so that you didnt have to wait for
his/her impending death? Or would you prefer to spend as much time
as you could with your child and love him/her for as long as you
had left?
Someone asked us after Benedict died, Was it worth it? Oh, YES!
For the chance to hold him, and see him, and love him before
letting him go ... For the chance for our children to see that we
would never stop loving them, regardless of their imperfections?
For the chance to give him everything we could? Oh, YES! Love your
children, and remember that they each have their own unique
mission. Children are always and only a blessing from God - even if
they dont stay very long...
(Read full story on p3.)
Direct DepositsBSB: 034 061
Account: 25-2709Cherish Life Queensland
Bank: Westpac, ToowongABN: 44 470 248 746
(previously Queensland Right to Life)
Head Office
Suite 5, Benson House2 Benson Street(PO Box 1382)TOOWONG DC Q
4066
P: (07) 3871 2445F: (07) 3720
[email protected]
Follow
us:www.facebook.com/cherishlifeqldwww.twitter.com/cherishlifeqld
Atherton Tablelands Carol OConnell Ph: 4095
[email protected]
Bundaberg Barry KirbyPh: 4151
[email protected]
CairnsDr Tim CoylePh: 4054 [email protected]
Emerald Margaret Smith Ph: 4987
[email protected]
Gladstone Colina Knol Ph: 0422 111
[email protected]
Gold CoastJade ReadPh: 0423 372
[email protected]
GympieRoss DaviesPh: 5482 [email protected]
Mackay Dr Graeme [email protected]
Nambour & Sunshine Coast Jacinta PurcellPh: 0437 868
[email protected]
Redcliffe & Northern SuburbsJulie BorgerPh: 3284 7743
[email protected]
Rockhampton Noelle MelrosePh: 4928
[email protected]
Toowoomba Dr Donna Purcell Ph: 4633 1447
[email protected]
TownsvilleMary Lambert (Secretary)Ph: 4779
[email protected]
WarwickMaritta HutleyPh: 0439 003
[email protected]
Volume 43 Issue 2 June 2015 Page 1Cherish Life Newsletter
Why Carry A Dying Child?A Mothers Perspective By Teresa
Streckfuss
Upcoming Events
Cherish Life Branches
Volume 43 Issue 2 June 2015 Page 6Cherish Life NewsletterVolume
43 Issue 2 June 2015 Page 5Cherish Life Newsletter
Tokens, jars, and burgers. Oh my!!!During May, Cherish Life
Queensland received an email from the burger chain, Grilld,
inviting us to write a few words to go on one of their Local
Matters jars in the Toowong store. The email stated that three
community businesses were chosen each month, and if diners placed
the token they were given when buying a burger in our jar, and CLQ
had the most tokens, $300 would be donated to us, or if a lesser
amount of tokens, we would receive a $100 donation. CLQ was chosen
for the month of June and our tag placed on one of the three jars
in their store.
On the afternoon of Wednesday 10 June, we were alerted that
Simon Crowe, the owner of the burger chain, was speaking on ABC
radio and stated that the jar with our tag on it had been removed
from the Toowong store, as, in his words, his chain of stores is
pro-choice. He further went on to state that Everyone has a right
to have their opinion, but in this instance our opinion is about
pro-choice. Yes, you read that right! Seems he cant be much clearer
than that choice is only choice when it means abortion.
Though he used the word pro-choice that is merely a euphemism -
if it wasnt, he would have been happy for an organisation with a
life-for-the-baby-and-real-love-care-and-support-for-the-mother
option to be represented. At least half of his staff and half his
customers would not agree with his pro-abortion stance. Mr Crowe
has taken it upon himself to speak for all of his staff and all his
customers!
ACTION REQUIRED: We are encouraging everyone to write to Mr
Crowe and let him know that he does not speak for you when he
states his burger chain is pro-choice, and express your
dissatisfaction re the censorship of the situation. The irony is,
it was Mr Crowes own head office that approved our tag in the first
place! We also encourage you to dine elsewhere and then post in
your receipts to him to show him how much money his chain of stores
is losing due to his pro-abortion statement and censorship.
The address is:
Happily, due to all the publicity, we have had donations that
total 20-fold the minimum amount we could have won. They have come
from as far away as Western Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, and
as far north as Townsville. We have also had a number of people
contacting us to volunteer their services for our organisation. So
this small cloud of censorship has certainly had a large silver
lining.
As one of our Facebook friends has stated, It never ceases to
amaze me that a business that relies on customers walking through
the front door would advocate the killing of its future
customers.
The Sanctity of Life Sunday Sunday 11 October See enclosed flyer
for details of bookmarks and flyers available for purchase to
support
Sanctity of Life Sunday in your churches.
Cherish Life Annual Dinner Thursday 8 October Details closer to
event. Venue: Indooroopilly Golf Club, Meiers Rd,
Indooroopilly.
Note: This event is being held in October this year.
envelopeSimon Crowe
Level 2, 4-10 Amsterdam St Richmond VIC 3121
or email him on:www.grilld.com.au/say-hi/
A visitor to the Cherish Life stand at the Pregnancy,
Babies,
Children Expo held 19-21 June in Brisbane
being served by our
wonderful volunteer, Rebecca.
Sunday 11 October is Sanctity of Life Sunday. Please order your
bookmarks or bulletin flyer for your church asap available until
stocks run out. See enclosed flyer ordering form for details.
L to R: State President Teresa Martin, Bobby Schindl
er and wife Kristina.
CLQ Toowoomba branchs stand at the Toowoomba
Show with branch member Maria Lossberg assisting
two interested visitors.
Bobby and Kristina
Schindler enjoying
Brisbane.
Flyer:front
Flyer:back
Equal Value bookmark:front
Equal Value bookmark:back
Prayer for Reverence for Life bookmark:front and back
Cherish Life bookmark: front and back
-
Many of you may have wondered, Whats the point?... or perhaps
pitied us for having to continue carrying a child who is not going
to live for long... I understand these thoughts, because when my
sister was carrying Thomas Walter (who had been diagnosed with
anencephaly at 18 weeks and lived for 17 hours after birth) I
really didnt properly comprehend the whole situation. I knew it was
the right thing to do. I didnt question that I would have no other
option if the same thing ever happened to me (although I knew it
never would!) But I thought how awful it was to know for over four
months that the child you are carrying is unable to live outside
your womb.
Once he was born, I was able to hold my nephew and see him
finally as a real person - a precious unique creation - I began to
realise that there was a lot more to it than mere ethics. When,
much to my disbelief, my own baby, Benedict, was diagnosed with
this same condition four years later - I was finally able to grasp
it, although it has taken me a long time to be able to put my
thoughts into words. It is only since Charlottes diagnosis that I
have found words that almost convey my feelings.
Some people think we carried Benedict and Charlotte to term
because we dont agree with abortion, because we are Catholic, or
perhaps because our nephew was carried to term after a fatal
diagnosis. While these factors probably all played a part in our
immediate refusal of the option to terminate, this is not what its
all about! Its about love! Its about my baby! Its not about some
tragic, fatal medical condition - its about my child. We do not
possess more strength than other people. Its not because we can
cope where others wouldnt. There is no way to avoid the sad fact
that she cannot live long after birth with this condition, but
causing Charlotte to die earlier will not stop this happening.
Causing her to die earlier will only take from us the beautiful
experience of knowing and loving her.
The tragedy is not the fact that we know our baby will die. The
tragedy is that our baby will die. It is not nice to know for
months beforehand, but it gives us a chance to appreciate a life so
brief, and not to miss a moment.
The value of Thomas Walter, Benedict and Charlotte cannot be
measured by the length of their lives - we dont apply this
yardstick to adults, so why should we to babies? A baby is not a
possession, an accessory to acquire. A baby is a gift, a new
entity, a precious, individual soul loved by God. We are created
for a purpose, there is a reason for our being here. Even if that
reason is unclear to us most of the time, we are constantly
affecting other people in our families, communities etc. Who knows
what purpose can be fulfilled in 9 months and one day? I dont know,
but God does. I do know that Benedict left a lasting impression on
our family, he made us slow down, savour life, and treasure our
other children even more. He made us realise that we cannot control
or predict what will happen in the future, he made us rely on God.
And how often are we given the opportunity to really give another
person true unconditional love? Love that truly expects no return?
It is a blessing to experience that kind of pure love!
So dont pity us for carrying a child we know will die. Carrying
this beautiful person is an honour. Grieve for the fact that our
baby will die. We wouldnt wish away the time we had with Benedict,
and also this time we are now experiencing with Charlotte, just to
save us the pain of losing them. Ive always thought of it like
this; if your 3 year old was diagnosed with untreatable, fatal
cancer and had only 4 months to live; would you prefer the doctor
kill your child straight away so that you didnt have to wait for
his/her impending death? Or would you prefer to spend as much time
as you could with your child and love him/her for as long as you
had left?
Someone asked us after Benedict died, Was it worth it? Oh, YES!
For the chance to hold him, and see him, and love him before
letting him go ... For the chance for our children to see that we
would never stop loving them, regardless of their imperfections?
For the chance to give him everything we could? Oh, YES! Love your
children, and remember that they each have their own unique
mission. Children are always and only a blessing from God - even if
they dont stay very long...
(Read full story on p3.)
Direct DepositsBSB: 034 061
Account: 25-2709Cherish Life Queensland
Bank: Westpac, ToowongABN: 44 470 248 746
(previously Queensland Right to Life)
Head Office
Suite 5, Benson House2 Benson Street(PO Box 1382)TOOWONG DC Q
4066
P: (07) 3871 2445F: (07) 3720
[email protected]
Follow
us:www.facebook.com/cherishlifeqldwww.twitter.com/cherishlifeqld
Atherton Tablelands Carol OConnell Ph: 4095
[email protected]
Bundaberg Barry KirbyPh: 4151
[email protected]
CairnsDr Tim CoylePh: 4054 [email protected]
Emerald Margaret Smith Ph: 4987
[email protected]
Gladstone Colina Knol Ph: 0422 111
[email protected]
Gold CoastJade ReadPh: 0423 372
[email protected]
GympieRoss DaviesPh: 5482 [email protected]
Mackay Dr Graeme [email protected]
Nambour & Sunshine Coast Jacinta PurcellPh: 0437 868
[email protected]
Redcliffe & Northern SuburbsJulie BorgerPh: 3284 7743
[email protected]
Rockhampton Noelle MelrosePh: 4928
[email protected]
Toowoomba Dr Donna Purcell Ph: 4633 1447
[email protected]
TownsvilleMary Lambert (Secretary)Ph: 4779
[email protected]
WarwickMaritta HutleyPh: 0439 003
[email protected]
Volume 43 Issue 2 June 2015 Page 1Cherish Life Newsletter
Why Carry A Dying Child?A Mothers Perspective By Teresa
Streckfuss
Upcoming Events
Cherish Life Branches
Volume 43 Issue 2 June 2015 Page 6Cherish Life NewsletterVolume
43 Issue 2 June 2015 Page 5Cherish Life Newsletter
Tokens, jars, and burgers. Oh my!!!During May, Cherish Life
Queensland received an email from the burger chain, Grilld,
inviting us to write a few words to go on one of their Local
Matters jars in the Toowong store. The email stated that three
community businesses were chosen each month, and if diners placed
the token they were given when buying a burger in our jar, and CLQ
had the most tokens, $300 would be donated to us, or if a lesser
amount of tokens, we would receive a $100 donation. CLQ was chosen
for the month of June and our tag placed on one of the three jars
in their store.
On the afternoon of Wednesday 10 June, we were alerted that
Simon Crowe, the owner of the burger chain, was speaking on ABC
radio and stated that the jar with our tag on it had been removed
from the Toowong store, as, in his words, his chain of stores is
pro-choice. He further went on to state that Everyone has a right
to have their opinion, but in this instance our opinion is about
pro-choice. Yes, you read that right! Seems he cant be much clearer
than that choice is only choice when it means abortion.
Though he used the word pro-choice that is merely a euphemism -
if it wasnt, he would have been happy for an organisation with a
life-for-the-baby-and-real-love-care-and-support-for-the-mother
option to be represented. At least half of his staff and half his
customers would not agree with his pro-abortion stance. Mr Crowe
has taken it upon himself to speak for all of his staff and all his
customers!
ACTION REQUIRED: We are encouraging everyone to write to Mr
Crowe and let him know that he does not speak for you when he
states his burger chain is pro-choice, and express your
dissatisfaction re the censorship of the situation. The irony is,
it was Mr Crowes own head office that approved our tag in the first
place! We also encourage you to dine elsewhere and then post in
your receipts to him to show him how much money his chain of stores
is losing due to his pro-abortion statement and censorship.
The address is:
Happily, due to all the publicity, we have had donations that
total 20-fold the minimum amount we could have won. They have come
from as far away as Western Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, and
as far north as Townsville. We have also had a number of people
contacting us to volunteer their services for our organisation. So
this small cloud of censorship has certainly had a large silver
lining.
As one of our Facebook friends has stated, It never ceases to
amaze me that a business that relies on customers walking through
the front door would advocate the killing of its future
customers.
The Sanctity of Life Sunday Sunday 11 October See enclosed flyer
for details of bookmarks and flyers available for purchase to
support
Sanctity of Life Sunday in your churches.
Cherish Life Annual Dinner Thursday 8 October Details closer to
event. Venue: Indooroopilly Golf Club, Meiers Rd,
Indooroopilly.
Note: This event is being held in October this year.
envelopeSimon Crowe
Level 2, 4-10 Amsterdam St Richmond VIC 3121
or email him on:www.grilld.com.au/say-hi/
A visitor to the Cherish Life stand at the Pregnancy,
Babies,
Children Expo held 19-21 June in Brisbane
being served by our
wonderful volunteer, Rebecca.
Sunday 11 October is Sanctity of Life Sunday. Please order your
bookmarks or bulletin flyer for your church asap available until
stocks run out. See enclosed flyer ordering form for details.
L to R: State President Teresa Martin, Bobby Schindl
er and wife Kristina.
CLQ Toowoomba branchs stand at the Toowoomba
Show with branch member Maria Lossberg assisting
two interested visitors.
Bobby and Kristina
Schindler enjoying
Brisbane.
Flyer:front
Flyer:back
Equal Value bookmark:front
Equal Value bookmark:back
Prayer for Reverence for Life bookmark:front and back
Cherish Life bookmark: front and back