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 don't get this.
if she doesn't get chemo, she certainly will die whether she makes it to give birth or not is up in the air.
if she does get chemo, she might have a miscarriage but might live herself.
Sounds like anyone who supports refusing chemo feels a woman's only purpose is as an incubator and her life has no value.
The girl started chemo on tuesday night. So, I guess this discussion makes no sense now.
msmarcelle - That's wonderful! Great to know. I'm glad they got their heads out of their asses.
I'm so glad that she's getting treatment. My dad is dying of leukemia.. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia to be exact. he is in constant pain right now. And some of you say "suck it up"? I say f-you. I wouldn't wish that kind of pain on anyone. Save her life.... when she's older, she may be able to have children then.
@dreabug23
No woman uses abortion as birth control.
No, not all women use abortions as birth control but I know of one - so it does happen.
Maybe you should stop worrying about the contents of her uterus and worry about yourself.
I'm not actually "worried" about her or her uterus. I am, however worried about each and every one of the lives she took and may possibly take in the future.
@jagamama
Actually, I believe the two situations are the same (in spirit) for one simple reason. The life that grows inside a woman is innocent. It doesn't matter how that life got there (choice, accident, or in my case, force) but that life is not ours to take.
@dreabug23
No woman uses abortion as birth control.
Should that matter?
@Jill
I'm with you.