To the editor:
My name is Leah Tews. I am 13 years old and am a pro-life believer in speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves. I am sure you are aware of the decision that was recently made by the joint leaders of Meriter/UW surgical centers to allow second trimester abortions at their facilities. I believe that we, as a Christian community, have the responsibility to act on behalf of Christ, as His voice for His unborn children.
The following is a letter I wrote to the Board of Directors of Meriter/UW Hospital’s surgery center regarding their decision. My older sister was an unplanned pregnancy. Our parents were unmarried and unprepared for the news of the pregnancy. It would have been easy for them to listen to those who said that my sister was “just a cluster of cells,” and her life was disposable.
But they chose life and my 16-year-old sister is now a star basketball player, a great piano player, and has been sponsoring a child in Guatemala with her own money since she was nine years old. She has been a great role model for me and if my parents had chosen to end her life before she was born, we would not have become a family and neither she nor I would be alive. I beg you to share this information so that others will be the voice of Christ and the unborn child. Below is my letter.
Leah Tews, Verona
Dear Hospital Leaders: My name is Leah Tews. I am 13 years old and I recently learned about your decision to allow second trimester abortions in your hospitals. I thought that hospitals were a place where human beings received medical care and lives were saved. I am trying hard to understand how two hospitals filled with doctors who have promised to protect life have decided to do exactly the opposite. I have seen the level of development of fetuses between 19 and 22 weeks, and it is impossible to deny that life exists. Taking human life at any age is murder. It makes me sad to think that if I had come at a time in my mother’s life that was inconvenient for her, and she was scared and doubtful, that decision makers like you would have chosen not to come to my rescue. I am grateful to be surrounded by caring people who respect the value of human life and are committed to making choices regarding their health care providers that are consistent with their values and beliefs. I pray that their voice will be heard as they react to your decision in terms of their hospital choices. Leah Tews, Verona |