Millions have made the decision to abort their pre-born baby. The reasons reach the gamut … Unexpected, unwanted, handicapped, financial hardship or the wrong sex. Pro-abortionists would say it’s the mother’s choice while other’s cry out for the baby that has no voice.
It was September 13, 2007. The phone rang and Eileen Smith heard sobs on the other end. Words like “Laura”, “hospital” and “not breathing” were barely decipherable. It was their daughter Laura’s best friend, explaining that something went terribly wrong at the abortion clinic. Tom and Eileen Smith did not know their daughter was pregnant, and now she was dead.
By the fortieth anniversary of the infamous Roe vs Wade decision in January legalizing abortion, 54,559,615 had been performed in America. Laura Hope Smith’s story does not stand alone. Out of that staggering number, four hundred women have died along with their pre-born babies on the abortion table. Most recently, Jennifer McKenna Morbelli, a 29-year old kindergarten teacher, died as a result of complications after a third trimester abortion. This fatal decision was made after discovering her baby had “fetal abnormalities.”
Among reasons women give for ending life, aborting a “handicapped” child is fairly common; for instance, ninety percent of down syndrome babies don’t see the light of day. When panic ensues, it’s too easy to make choices that are filled with regret. “I am aghast that any physician, even one who performs late trimester abortions would do one at 33 weeks. A much better option would have been counseling and perhaps discussions with mothers of children with conditions similar to McKenna-Morbellis,” noted Dr. Linda Burke-Galloway.
Out of the ashes of grief, Eileen Smith rose up as a champion for life. It’s become her mission in life to educate and enlighten others about the reality of abortion. This is one mother’s perspective: “I know that God is going to bring good out of my daughter's death. What a horrible thing; for my daughter to be associated with abortion. But, if God's going to use it for good and for His glory, then so be it. We're going very public with a very shameful, private thing because I believe God wants to use it to save lives. I believe the truth will come out, and the light of God will shine on this. Laura's death has had tremendous impact around the country, and even into Canada.”
Education, awareness and conviction play a huge part in opening the eyes of both the secular and the church worlds. “I now believe it is my calling to keep telling Laura's story to the Church, and the world. I naively believed that abortion was not a choice for a Christian girl. A Pastor had even apologized to me and the Lord, for not speaking about this from his pulpit. We both had false assumptions. This is a problem in the Church, and one that needs to be spoken about from the pulpits. We have to take the "A" word out of the closet, put it out in the open, and discuss it. And maybe, possibly, hopefully, we'll even become active against it. Please keep our family in your prayers, and please tell someone Laura's story.”
The Smith's rescued Laura at the age of four and a half from an adopted home that didn't want her. This precious girl fit right in with their other three children. Raised in a Christian home, her parents had taught her the value of life. At the time of her death she was 22, engaged to a soldier and looking forward to all life brings.
A book is being penned from this mother’s perspective even now at the same time producers are interested in making a feature film, giving a broader audience to this sad tale. “I am glad getting her story to print and to video will continue to save lives long after I am gone,” noted Mrs. Smith.
Tom and Eileen Smith’s grandbaby would be six years old and their daughter Laura entering the prime of her life.
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