I realize it has been awhile since the last interview, but I thought it was time to bring back the Pro-Life Warrior Spotlight.
These interviews are exclusive to ProLife365.com. Here we highlight pro-life heroes and heroines, letting them share their story.
Today I am privileged to share with you my interview of Jennifer Christie. She is a mother who conceived in rape.
Despite pressures to the contrary from medical staff, family, and friends alike, Jennifer gave birth to her son.
Jennifer has not shared her story too often. I am honored she took me up on the offer to tell us her story. Here it is…
Kevin: Jennifer, thanks for taking the time to join us. You have a remarkable story needing to be shared to as many people as possible. I am excited you have agreed to use ProLife365.com as a venue.
Jennifer: Thank YOU, Kevin. It’s an honor to be asked. My prayer is always that sharing my story will encourage someone when they’re going through a dark time.
I understand you are a Christian from North Carolina. You and your husband have five children, including a baby boy born in October 2014. That baby boy’s life will be our focal point. For those unfamiliar, will you please recount your story?
Of course. I’m a sign language interpreter and my work takes me all around the country. I usually work only during the day, so I’m home when the kids are back from school. But when money is tight, sometimes I’ll take on longer assignments.
This was one of those times. I was spending the week out of town, staying in a hotel. It was getting dark, snowy and windy.
The hood of my coat was up and my scarf wrapped around my face. If someone was following me, I wouldn’t have noticed.
I stumbled inside my room dropping my belongings on the floor. It was when I turned to close the door that I saw a man standing there.
He was big. As in tall. 6’6. Maybe 6’7. Young. Looked to be about college age. He didn’t look deranged or menacing and I wasn’t afraid.
Then he punched me in the head. Things are fuzzy from that point . I remember that I fought. I woke up crumpled in the stairwell, a housekeeper covering me with her coat and crooning at me in Spanish.
The next six weeks were a dark time for me. Nightmares and panic attacks. Asking God, questioning God…trying to make sense of a senseless evil.
Another assignment away from home. A cruise. I had accepted the job several months before and every detail from my team interpreters, flight to the ship, cabin arrangements, etc. were all set.
There was a lot of discussion about backing out, but in the end the decision was made that a change of scenery might do me some good. And I set sail.
Day two of the ten-day journey, I became very ill. Dysentery. Immediately I was quarantined in the medical unit and put on antibiotics that didn’t help my condition as much as expected.
As the doctor readied a stronger cocktail of meds that would be administered via IV, she asks casually “any chance you might be pregnant?” I half laugh and shake my head. “My husband has had a vasec..” and I stop midsentence.
Because in that moment, I knew. Somehow I knew even before that second line appears on that little stick and changes my life.
We didn’t “choose life” for our son (and we’ve always considered him OUR son), because as far as we’re concerned there is no other choice to make.
God says before we were formed in our mother’s womb, He knew us. That should humble and amaze us. Life is precious. Every life.
A few days later we dock in Colombia and I am driven to the hospital for an ultrasound to confirm what will not be a surprise. Lying on that cold metal table in an unfamiliar country, on Valentine’s Day 2014, I see the little pea that we would name Joshua, meaning “God is salvation”.
Back on the ship, I’m given privacy (the medical staff has been made aware of the situation and is doing everything possible to be supportive). And I call North Carolina where my husband knows only that I’ve been ill and receiving treatment.
I hear his voice on the phone telling me how worried he’s been, he’s glad I saw a doctor in town, was I feeling any better…I cut him off.
“I’m pregnant.”
There’s a moment of silence. Just a moment. Then an exhale. His voice is as steady and even as ever and he says “Okay…okay..This is all right..”
“What do you MEAN this is all right?”
“I mean…” He takes another breath, “that we can do this. We’ll get through this. We’re going to have another baby.
“Sweetheart, this is a gift. This is something wonderful from something terrible. We can DO this.”
He was right. A terrible act of violence had a purpose far greater than me. And we would embrace it as the something wonderful it was.
Was your faith in God strong at that point, to where you trusted in Him and keep your baby, despite the trauma you had just experienced? If not, what was it that led you to choose life for your son?
My husband and I met in a youth group at church when we were fourteen. Our faith in God has been the foundation of our relationship from the beginning. We’ve been through a lot and no matter the storm, trusting in God has been our strength.
We didn’t “choose life” for our son (and we’ve always considered him OUR son), because as far as we’re concerned there is no other choice to make.
God says before we were formed in our mother’s womb, He knew us. That should humble and amaze us. Life is precious. Every life.
Aside from your husband, it was difficult initially to find anyone supportive of your “choice” to give birth to your baby, wasn’t it?
Initially, yes.
I truly believe medical team on the cruise ship meant well, but their way of comforting me was to continuously say how easy it would be to abort at such an early stage in the pregnancy.
Time and time again. Once I abort, I was assured I could put this all behind me and move on with my life.
Some friends were wonderful… others thought I was crazy to keep a “permanent reminder” of the assault.
My father and brother called me a liar and haven’t spoken to me in over a year. My mother, very concerned for my health, was not in favor of continuing with the pregnancy.
It’s not really a socially acceptable choice. Think of how many people publicly espouse a deep faith, yet support abortion in cases of rape or incest. How are our babies less deserving of life?
“Sweetheart, this is a gift. This is something wonderful from something terrible. We can DO this.”
He was right. A terrible act of violence had a purpose far greater than me. And we would embrace it as the something wonderful it was.
Praise God, you gave birth to your son last October. How do you feel about him now that you get to hold him?
I had a difficult pregnancy. The last couple months I spent on strict bed rest and still delivered six weeks early (in September). Spending so much time just praying for our little one to be born strong and healthy coupled with the negativity surrounding our decision to keep him, had me feeling incredibly protective.
When he finally came to us, everything was worth it. Everything. My cup runneth over.
He’s nine months old now. Babbling and crawling and laughing, flashing his two teeth. He’s the happiest little guy.
He has brought so much joy to our family, beyond what I could have imagined. This little boy is bathed in love. Ours. God’s. People around the world who hear our story and pray for him. He’s truly a gift.
Every life is precious.
What do you hope people will learn from your testimony?
More than 50% of rape survivor mothers carry their children to term. In all the published studies, I’ve never seen that a woman regrets that decision.
But what about the women who are suffering through the aftermath of an abortion? Abortion is held up as some kind of cure for healing the trauma caused by rape. And it’s a lie that so many believe.
If you talk to rape survivor mothers, you’ll hear quite the opposite. I want women to know they’re not alone.
Taking a life is not the way to reclaim what was taken from you. God has a greater plan. And if you are post-abortive, forgiveness and restoration can be yours. It’s only a prayer away.
What is your opinion of the fact that few, if any, mothers who conceive in rape and keep their babies are never given a chance to speak out in the national media or in politics?
Everyone has an agenda. Anyone on the side of pro-life has been called anti-choice, judgmental, narrow minded, fanatical, and many things not fit to print.
Politicians don’t want to lose voters by taking a stand, celebrities don’t want to risk their livelihood. That we who believe in the sanctity of life legitimately care about the physical and mental well-being of both mother and child is contrary to what our detractors want everyone to believe.
Going against what’s popular in the world does not win friends. It really comes down to what matters to you in the end.
What resources would you recommend for people who want to learn more about mothers who conceive in rape and choose life?
I was led to Rebecca Kiessling when I first discovered I was pregnant. She is a woman who was conceived in rape and has an amazing testimony.
She’s spent her life advocating for the unborn and is great about connecting women (or men) with people or organizations that meet their needs. She can be found on Facebook or Twitter or you can contact her through her blog at Savethe1.com.
Where can people find you online, if they want to follow your writing?
I have a blog with a few pieces dedicated to this journey of hope and healing. Where I was and where I am now. It can be found at: www.fortheloveofjosh.wordpress.com.
Thanks again, so much, for taking time out of your busy schedule to join us on ProLife365.com, Jennifer. I am privileged to be able to tell the world about your heroic deed and about your son, Joshua. May God bless you and your family!
And you and yours, Kevin. It’s been a pleasure.
