TRIBUTE TO THOSE WOMEN WHO CHOSE LIFE

When Genevieve discovered she was pregnant in December 1984, she did not think of a baby’s coos, soft skin begging for cuddles, or the simple joy of having a daughter. Instead, she thought of her two young sons—whom she barely saw because she had to work such long hours—and of the end of each month, when she was constantly forced to make heart-wrenching choices: whether to pay the rent or put food on the table for her children. 

She thought of her reality as a single mother, abandoned once again by a man who had never asked to be a father. In her view, it was irresponsible to bring a child into the world under such circumstances. The father—the man she had believed might finally be the husband she had waited for all those years—demanded that she has an abortion. He did not mince words; he made it perfectly clear that he had no intention of being involved in the pregnancy. It was her problem, and it was up to her to resolve it. With a heavy heart, consumed by despair, she agreed to make the call and schedule the appointment that would extinguish the life that had begun within her. She decided to follow the father’s advice and terminate the pregnancy. It was not an easy decision; she had wrestled with her conscience for three months. One might assume that having gone through an abortion before would make the choice easier, but it did not. This was the second time she had found herself in such a situation—the first time, she had chosen to sacrifice her child in the hope of a better life—and now, here again, facing the very same dilemma.

As she made her way to the abortion clinic that day, her imagination ran wild. She wondered if the universe was granting her another chance to make the right choice—if this child had come to help her erase the guilt that had haunted her ever since she had faced that heart-wrenching decision. At the clinic, during the ultrasound, she received confirmation that the universe was indeed offering her a second chance: she was expecting twins, just as she had been during her previous pregnancy. This time, she would make the right choice. She would give her children a chance to live. After all, the "better life" she had envisioned following her first abortion had never materialized—so why not try a different path this time and see what might unfold? That day in March 1985, Genevieve chose life. Five months later, she gave birth to a baby girl. Sadly, her second daughter did not survive—likely due to the stress of the pregnancy—but this did not stop Geneviève from celebrating the life that remained, promising her child that her needs should always be met. 

Genevieve had come to realize that a glass half-empty is also a glass half-full. It was true that she was a single mother—already raising two other children—living in an impoverished country where single mothers are easy targets and social outcasts; they merely survive, rather than truly live. Yet, Genevieve chose to fight for her daughter’s life, determined to prove that "fate" is not an immutable force. We choose our own destiny; we forge it ourselves. 

Genevieve kept her promises. As a matter of fact, her daughter never lacked for anything in terms of material needs. She grew up in a beautiful home, attended private schools, and had the incredible good fortune to be able to pursue her studies in Canada. Her mother made the right choice and worked hard to provide her the best life possible.