As an attempt to ban abortions after 24 weeks and 6 days in SA was debated in the State parliament last week, the mover of the motion in the lower house had a personal reason to seek to narrow the exemptions.
The Bill passed the upper house but was defeated in the lower house.
Chantelle Thomas’ speech in reply: apparently, her child was given a 2 per cent chance of survival.
“At 28 weeks’ gestation, one South Australian mother received devastating news. Specialists had identified severe ventriculomegaly measuring around 20 millimetres, foetal growth restriction and an absent cavum septum pellucidum. The prognosis was grim. The family was told their unborn baby had less than a 2 per cent chance of survival, or a normal outcome, and were encouraged to terminate their baby. Importantly, there was no risk to the life of the mother. The recommendation was based on the predicted outcome for the baby. The specialist was asked if any families ever go through with this. The answer was no.
“A piece of paper was given to sign off on an abortion: ‘We will put a syringe in the baby’s heart and we will inject potassium chloride, and that way the baby will be delivered dead.’ The family chose life. Today, that baby is seven years old. She is completely healthy, normal, excelling at school and a champion gymnast. An assessment conducted through the neonatal intensive care program found the child was meeting developmental milestones, had no concerns regarding hearing or vision, was socially engaged, active and thriving. Had this child been aborted at 28 weeks based on a prognosis alone, an incredible life would have been lost. A future filled with joy, achievement and potential would have never existed.
“I stand here today able to tell the story because I refused to give up on my daughter when others believed there was little hope. My daughter is living proof that predictions are not certainties. She is proof that behind every diagnosis is a human life with value, dignity and unlimited potential. She is proof that sometimes the experts get it wrong, and that hope should never be discarded. The lesson is simple: where there is life, there is hope. Every life deserves the opportunity to prove the statistics wrong.”
Interestingly enough, the SA Treasurer, Tom Koutsantonis, said something similar in his speech in support of the bill.
“Every time I look at my daughter Tia, who is now 15 years old, taller than my wife and smarter than me—
An honourable member interjecting:
“That is not hard; that is true. She is a bright, bubbly, beautiful young woman who has an amazing future ahead of her. I was given horrific options by doctors, and I felt very challenged at that time, but we chose a different path, and I am glad that we did. “
Image: Chantelle Thomas, One Nation MP for Narungga in the SA Parliament. Image credit: Chantelle Thomas Facebook