Abortion Survivor Shares Her Moving Story

Source: May 30, 1999, North Hills News Record Pine, PA --

A 22-year-old woman who survived a saline abortion in her mother's womb but was disabled for life as a result shared her story - and faith - at North Way Christian Community in Pine. Gianna Jessen, a singer and speaker living in Nashville, Tenn., said she was able to forgive her biological mother even though the teenager sought to abort her in a Los Angeles abortion facility in 1977. "I was aborted, actually," said Jessen, who uses her background as a springboard to talk to teenagers about maintaining sexual purity and overcoming obstacles. "I'm not angry. I really have forgiven her," said Jessen. "I guess it would sound odd. It's because I'm a Christian that I'm able to forgive her for what she's done." Jessen, who grew up in San Diego and has appeared in pro-life television commercials, lived with foster parents until she was 3, when Diana DePaul of San Clemente, Calif., adopted her. Jessen said the birth trauma left her with cerebral palsy. She walked with leg braces until she was 9. Her intellect, however, was unaffected. She anticipates a normal lifespan. "I was never supposed to sit up," said Jessen, who credits God with a miracle. "They said all I would ever be was a vegetable," she said. "Not only did I survive this procedure, I also can take care of myself and can walk, with a slight limp." Jessen's life began with a one-night stand. Her biological mother was 17 and from the San Diego area. The father 19 or 20. It was not a serious romance. The father left town before his daughter was born, DePaul said. The mother, seven and a half months pregnant, was referred to an abortion facility by Planned Parenthood, DePaul said. At the abortion facility, a salt solution was injected into the teen's womb, which usually results in a stillbirth, causing the abortion and death of the child. Jessen survived. A nurse called a paramedic, and she was transferred to a hospital, DePaul said. At birth, she weighed 2 pounds, 1 ounce, DePaul said. She was in intensive care for three months. DePaul said she told her daughter about her origin when she was 12. Oddly enough, because the baby was born alive, the birth mother was required to name the baby. She named her Giana. DePaul added an extra "n" later. "I told her at that time that she shouldn't look at the circumstances of her birth," DePaul said. "Many people have traumatic births. I told her to look at the fact that God, in his grace, allowed her to live." In 1992, DePaul hired a private detective to find the birth mother. DePaul knew her name because she had acquired the state's foster care records. The two women met for four hours and the woman told DePaul she had another abortion. "She never said, `Oh, I hope Gianna forgives me for this.' " DePaul said. "She did say she was glad that Gianna was making the best of her life." The woman, whom DePaul has not seen since, could not be reached. DePaul would not reveal her name. Jessen said she does not want to meet her. Amy Scheuring of Richland, a member of North Way, said she admires Jessen, who she read about in an article. "You're looking at a young woman who in a way represents every aborted child," Scheuring said. "She just is very clear about the fact that there is forgiveness and healing. You can move on." Because Jessen wants to practice what she preaches, she said she took a vow of chastity until marriage. "All I can say is that I'm so thankful for my life," she said. "Your life can be taken away by bitterness, anger. If I just sat around and wallowed in self pity, I'd never get anything done."