For more information see: www.melissaohden.com

My name is Melissa, and I am the survivor of a saline infusion abortion attempt.  When my 19 year old, biological mother entered the hospital for the abortion attempt in August of 1977, she estimated herself to be 18 to 22 weeks pregnant. Medical review of my birth
records indicate that she was likely closer to 24 to 28 weeks pregnant.

Over the course of a five day period, I endured the deliverance of this toxic salt solution into the amniotic fluid around me, while numerous rounds of Pitocin were delivered to my mother with the intent to induce labor and dispel my dead body from the womb.  When I was
delivered in bed by a nurse that fifth day, I was believed to be dead.  However, instead of being scalded to death from the outside-in, I had survived!

Gratefully, the doctors and nurses stepped in and provided me with the medical care that I needed to survive the abortion attempt and my premature birth.  Although doctors believed that I would likely not live for very long, and if I did survive, would be disabled, I am now
32 years old and am perfectly healthy, happy and successful.

Although I had always known that I had been adopted, I didn't find out about the abortion attempt until I was 14 years old.  At that time, my older sister, who is also adopted, became pregnant as a high school student,and was considering having an abortion.  Our mother told her about my survival in the hopes that she would choose life for her child, and she ultimately encouraged me to seek out the truth from our parents.  I am proud to share that my oldest nephew is now 17 years old!

I spent over 10 years of my life searching for my biological parents and attempting to obtain my medical records.  It wasn't until May of 2007 that I obtained my records and found my biological parents. Since that time, I have been reunited with a number of relatives on my
biological father's side of the family, and I have had communication with my biological mother's parents.  My life has also come full circle, as I gave birth to my first child,Olivia, at the very same hospital where my life was supposed to end.

I have now founded an organization in honor of Olivia, to share my story of survival with the world, to give testament to the grace and glory of the Lord, and open the hearts and minds to the true reality of abortion, the intergenerational impact that abortion has on families and communities.

Finding out about the abortion attempt was not pleasant,and processing through my own personal feelings of grief and loss have not been easy or simple, but I wouldn't change a thing.

This is who I am. I am a survivor, a believer, a living testament to God's grace and the power of hope, love, and forgiveness.