Several weeks ago, I cut an out article from the Windsor Star that my mom had seen and drawn to my attention. The article featured a nine-year old girl from Brazil that, after three years of being raped by her 23-year-old stepfather, had become pregnant with twins. Her attending doctors did not think her under-developed body would be able to carry the twins, and so were discussing the possibility of performing an abortion. Abortion in Brazil is technically illegal, except in the cases of rape and if the woman's health is jeopardized. However, as we all know, illegal things still happen all of the time. When in Brazil, I heard many, many stories of the frequency and methods of abortions performed in the slums. I think I even wrote a blog about a woman I knew that was almost aborted (See 'House of the Sower' Monday, October 20th.I'm not even sure how to tackle this issue. This story touches the core of many of the most severe problems facing Brazil- acceptance of sexualized behaviour in society, widespread and ongoing abuse in and between families, and generational poverty that helps to keep this cycle going. These are all issues we wrestle with in Canada too- the idea of 'choice', child protection and abuse. While in Brazil, I studied abortion proceedures, the rates at which they occur, and the devastation it causes. Consider this:
Worldwide, 40 million abortions are performed every year. 40 million. The population of Canada + 8 million wiped out in 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 etc. Every year. Our children and peers.
Who Suffers?
I am not merely Pro-life for the sake of the child- but also I'm Pro-life for the women that endure this. Can you imagine the horror and trauma that this girl has faced while still so little? Does she even stand a chance in life? Her body and identity have been stolen and destroyed. This abortion at such a young age only adds to this horror. Abortion brings an aspect of death and destruction to her reality that she cannot begin to understand now but must deal with for the rest of her life. Many women do not even realize the full extent to what they are doing or the impact it will forever have on their life. Where was this little girl's choice in any of this? It is important that we show compassion to women who have undergone abortions. It is important to know why they chose to do this and what we can do to support women in this position and those facing the decision that have not yet decided.
These babies. I know how they were conceived. I know the life they will face. But, my heart still aches for these two little babies that are gone. People often raise questions such as- 'Why has someone not yet found a cure to cancer?' How many potential top scientists, teachers, artists and friends have been killed?
So, I have included the article from the paper. Please read it and let me know what you think. It is important to talk about these things and not just ignore them or take them as 'normal'.
In her circumstances, did the doctors do the right thing in performing this abortion?? Leave a comment in the comment section.
Victim, 9, may abort- Sao Paulo March 2, 2009
A nine-year-old girl pregnant after years of alleged sexual abuse by her stepfather is likely to abort twins she is carrying in a case that has shocked Brazil, reports here said Saturday. The Brazilian girl, who was not identified because she is a minor, was found to be four months pregnant after being taken to hospital suffering stomach pains, the news websites G1, pe360graus and the Diario de Pernambuco reported. She was being cared for by a medical and psychological team in the Maternal-Child Institute in the northern city of Recife, close to her hometown of Alagoinha in Pernambuco state. "We don't know if she will develop the pregnancy up to the end because of the structure of her body. It is a big risk for her," said the doctor who confirmed the girl's pregnancy, Jose Severiano Cavalcanti. "She doesn't have a pelvis able to support a gestation of twins," he explained.
Abortion is illegal in Brazil except in cases of rape or if the woman's health is in danger.
The institute in Recife was unable to immediately confirm information about the case, telling AFP that authorized spokespeople were not available on the weekend.
According to police accounts reported in the media, the 23-year-old stepfather was believed to have abused the girl since she was six, paying her around 50 cents for each sexual relation.
**The abortion was indeed performed later by the girl's attending doctor.
