Teen's mother says her daughter's life comes first.Imagine finding out you have leukemia ... while pregnant. Doctors say you can undergo aggressive chemotherapy, but the treatment would likely end the pregnancy. Thankfully, as things stand today, a woman in this position would have the choice to decide if she would want to move forward with the cancer treatment. Because ever since Roe v. Wade, we haven't had to worry about illegal abortion in this country.
But in the Dominican Republic, it's a whole different ballgame. There, an abortion ban is preventing a 16-year-old, who is nine weeks pregnant, from undergoing chemo, because it may result in a terminated pregnancy. And there's no question in girl's mother's mind about what she wants to happen.
Rosa Hernandez is making an appeal to doctors and the D.R. government to make an exception for her daughter. She told CNN:
My daughter's life is first. I know that [abortion] is a sin and that it goes against the law ... but my daughter's health is first.
Yet, for the time being, politicians, commentators, and doctors are going to war over this young woman's life. The good news is that the director of the bioethics council that rules on application of the abortion ban says the council is leaning toward allowing the chemo. But the clock is ticking ...
This disturbing story should serve as a warning for Americans who are supporting politicians who are persistently making moves to chip away at abortion rights. Politicians who hope to turn the clock back to 40 years ago, when abortions were across-the-board illegal and came at a major expense to women's health and well-being. This sad, disturbing debacle in the Dominican Republic is an illustrated example of why moving backward would be nothing short of incredibly harmful and dangerous.
With hope, Rosa's daughter gets the treatment she so needs and deserves and no woman there -- or here -- ever has to face a similar situation.
Does this woman's story make you re-think your views on abortion?
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Comments 44
I believe in life at conception. I believe that the teen's baby's life is innocent and has zero to do with her having cancer. I believe the baby comes first. I'm sorry if that doesn't make sense to you.
Continuing a pregnancy after rape is not comparable to continuing a pregnancy through cancer, risking the death of yourself and the baby. It's not as if this girl would be killing her baby out of malace for no reason. She's trying to save her life. By forgoing any sort of treatment, it's entirely plausible and likely that she and the baby will die. Or baby will live and mom will die soon after. It's absolutely fine for you to have those beliefs you have. It's not fine for someone to tell a woman she cannot get care for her terminal illness because the fetus, at merely 9 weeks, has more value than an already living breathing person. It's a tough situation for sure, and heartbreaking, but she should not be denied the treatments if she wants them.
So, because your co-worker's cousin gas had six abortions, that is proof that all women use abortion as birth control?
Should safe, medical abortions be limited for all women because your co-worker's cousin had 6 abortions?
In fact, I don't care that she had 6 abortions. Would you like to know why?
Because it's her flippin' choice.
It is none of my business. Maybe you should stop worrying about the contents of her uterus and worry about yourself.
So, because your co-worker's cousin gas had six abortions, that is proof that all women use abortion as birth control?
No, but it proves your statement :
No woman uses abortion as birth control.
is completely false.
This story doesn't change my views on abortion. I am against it personally, wish people could be more responsible so we didn't need it, and believe it should only be available in cases like this, or rape/incest.
Doesnt change my view. Not your body..not YOUR choice. Its none of the government's business. I cant imagine what this poor girl is going through...