Survivor shares passion to help others avoid abortion

High school students hear stark reality in true story of effects of abortion

Published: January 22, 2015

By Aprille Hanson
Associate Editor

Aprille Hanson

Melissa Ohden, a survivor of a saline infusion abortion, told Arkansas Catholic that she was “excited” by the devotion the youth attending Weekend Ex-travaganza had for pro-life issues like putting a stop to abortion.

Aprille Hanson

On April 26, 2008, Melissa Ohden gazed down at her brand new baby girl, Olivia. Olivia was the second miracle to happen for Ohden at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa. Just 31 years prior, Ohden’s birth mother attempted to abort her via a saline infusion. It failed.

“What I have to live with as a mother is those children never would have lived if that abortion was successful 37 years ago,” the now mother of two told a crowd of 535 Catholic youth from throughout Arkansas gathered at the Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little Rock.

Ohden was the keynote speaker for Weekend Extrazanaga, an annual pro-life weekend for youth in parishes throughout Arkansas.

Liz Tingquist, director of Catholic Youth Ministry at the Diocese of Little Rock, said every year they try to pick a pro-life speaker — topics which can include euthanasia, abortion and the death penalty — who can bring something unique to the table.

“This year, Melissa Ohden I thought would be good because it’s bringing in someone who has not only survived, but thrived” after a failed abortion,, Tingquist said. “It’s about what her witness has given to this world.”

Ohden, who has a master’s degree in social work, is a nationally recognized pro-life advocate. She grew up in a Christian home with her adopted family. Though she knew she was adopted, it wasn’t until she was 14 that she found out the true nature of what happened.

When Ohden’s birth mother was about eight months pregnant in 1977, she walked into a hospital in Sioux City, Iowa — the same hospital where Ohden later give birth to Olivia — to end Ohden’s life.

The method: a saline infusion, which is a toxic salt solution injected into the amniotic fluid surrounding the unborn child in the womb. Ohden’s body was discarded, but two nurses realized the baby was crying. The medical team made the decision to save her, despite objections from the nurse handling the abortion.

“You would never know by looking at me today that I was supposed to be scalded to death,” Ohden said, explaining she “soaked” in the toxic solution for five days, two days longer than most.

“Thanks be to God for sparing my life,” Ohden said. “There is no medical reason I exist in this world.”

Years later during a speaking engagement in Sioux City, Ohden discovered why she was saved — prayer. A priest in the crowd, as well as others in attendance explained that in 1977, they would pray outside that hospital.

“That priest’s prayers saved my life,” she said.

For more than 10 years, Ohden searched for her birth parents to offer forgiveness and a chance to heal. Her birth father had died, but Ohden got in touch with her maternal grandparents and her birth mother and made a shocking discovery: Ohden’s birth mother never wanted to abort her, but was forced by her own mother — who was the same nurse performing Ohden’s abortion, who fought the fellow nurses desire to save her. Furthermore, Ohden’s birth mother did not know for more than 30 years that her baby had in fact survived.

“We live in a world that expects me to hate her,” Ohden said of her grandmother. “But I love them in that radical way Jesus loves us. I can’t imagine what made my grandmother make that decision that day.”

Ohden later married and after the birth of her daughter, she created the nonprofit For Olivia’s Sake, an organization that discusses the ripple effect from abortions on men, women, children, families and communities. In 2012, Ohden united fellow abortion survivors like herself by founding The Abortion Survivors Network (theabortionsurvivors.com). A book about her life will be released next year.

“I’ve met 188 other survivors, ranging from a little 2 year old to someone in their 70s,” Ohden said. “I’m not the only one.”

While Ohden tried to keep parts of her speech light and entertaining for the young people, the dark subject matter took its toll, with gasps throughout the crowd and tears shed.

“I thought it was a very powerful message,” said Hannah Gloria, a 15-year-old member of St. John the Baptist Church in Hot Springs.

Brenda Rodriguez, 15, a member of St. Raphael Church in Springdale, was eager to meet Ohden and grab a photo with her after the presentation.

“It really touched me. I can’t believe she went through all that,” Rodriguez said. “It’s very touching to see someone who inspires you to spread the word about abortion.”

The big takeaway for many of the youth was simply to spread the pro-life message.

“I wish everyone could hear it honestly,” said 17-year-old Morgan Davis, a member of St. Joseph Church in Paris, who recently chose a pro-life stance at her public high school during a debate. “It’s crazy that it’s encouraged by society to” have an abortion.

For Ohden, giving young people advice for how to hang onto faith in college and how to help a friend faced with an unplanned pregnancy is why she stays busy on the road.

“It’s so funny, I was really emotional when I saw them tonight. Out of all the things I do, coming here makes the sacrifices worthwhile,” Ohden said. “I know these kids know the truth.”