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April 25, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Have you ever noticed how encountering someone’s deeply personal story often sheds light on your own deeply personal story? In the light of someone else’s heartfelt story, your own life’s story suddenly comes into focus. Something that might have eluded your understanding for so long suddenly makes sense. The fellow who wrote the Psalms was onto something when he said: “In your light we see light” (36:9).

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Some of the stories at LifeSiteNews (LSN) have this beautiful effect on many readers. Some people are so moved by certain stories that they feel compelled to share their own personal story in the comments section. Such stories might remain forever buried and obscure save for the meticulous work of a few LSN team members who comb through the comments, earmarking those that merit special attention.

When LSN ran the story of the woman who went to have her hair done and saved a baby from abortion instead, a woman named Taylor felt inspired to share her own story:

Back in July, at 23 weeks pregnant, my daughter was diagnosed with having a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia which requires a severe surgery after birth and two months to a year of hospitalization. Fifty percent of these babies don't survive. In addition, she was diagnosed with having a rare genetic disorder called Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome. This syndrome contains very severe medical issues and many of these children don't live past two years old.

The doctors suggested terminating the pregnancy to me multiple times. But I finally looked at them and said: “Termination is not an option for me. I do not have the right to take away my baby's life, only God has that right. As long as my daughter is fighting for her life, I will be fighting right along with her.”

I didn't even realize what I had said until after I said it. I was shocked that I already had so much love for my daughter and so much hope and faith that she would be okay. Besides, how could anyone ever regret having a baby, even if things don't turn out for the best?

The pregnancy was such an emotional roller coaster ride. After she was born she was immediately taken away by the doctors. Days passed and even with the best treatment she was still getting worse. Finally, at two days old, I got to kiss her for the first time. Two days later, the doctors said there was nothing more they could do. I got to hold my daughter for the first and last time.

Although my daughter only lived four precious days, I will forever be thankful for that moment I stood up for her. Meeting her was the greatest feeling in the world. To this day, although my heart is filled with pain, I will forever remember the doctors telling me she wouldn't make it to birth and if she did, she wouldn't make it through birth.

See, miracles do happen!

Last November, LSN ran the story of five women conceived in rape who courageously stepped forward to defend a politician who opposed abortion even in the case of rape. The women collectively shared the message that even though they were conceived in rape, their lives where not a mistake. They called the politician a “hero” for having risked grave political consequences in standing up for their lives.

One woman named Dani was so moved by the women’s testimony that she just had to share her own story:

I am also a “product” of rape. Very few people know this about me,” wrote Dani.

When my mother was diagnosed with cancer and facing death, she told me there was a good possibility that my Dad was not my father and how it occurred. She also told me that she did not tell anyone else because no one would have believed her.

The mental anguish she endured was evident throughout my entire childhood, but the cause was unknown to me at the time. My mother told me the man’s name and the many similarities we shared. This man, my real father, had been married with children. He was a known philanderer. He was also a well known outspoken activist and politician. He died when I was only two years old.

Last year I met a gentleman by the same first name as my possible father. Instinctively I asked his last name. It was the same name my mother had mentioned. I immediately stood up, reached across the table with my arm extended to shake hands and said, “Nice to meet you Michael, I might be your sister.” A DNA test confirmed our relation. I have since met my three other half-siblings.

I am not a mistake. My life is worth living and so is the miracle that is my daughter. I am grateful everyday that my mother chose life instead of a back alley abortion. Thank you Mom! Thank you God!

Earlier this year LSN ran a story of the UK parents who rejected abortion after seeing their disabled son smile on ultrasound. Doctors told parents that their baby’s brain was not developing normally and that he would be seriously disabled. But after the couple saw their baby smile, blow bubbles, wave his arms and kick during a 3D ultrasound at 20 weeks of life, they knew they couldn’t end his life.

A woman named Risa was moved by the story to share her own personal story about refusing a doctor’s advice to abort the new life within her.

“We rejected terminating our twin girls when we found out that they were conjoined and shared a heart at 16 weeks. God gave us 13 beautiful days with them that everyone said we would never have. We could have never ever terminated them,” she wrote.

One woman named Lindsey opened her heart after LSN ran a piece of about a newly married couple who became pregnant with triplets. In the story, doctors had pushed the parents toward “selective reduction”. But they refused, being horrified to hear someone so unconcernedly offer to kill one or two of their children. The children were born prematurely and died, but not before the parents got to spend precious and treasured time with them. “We were blessed to have met them,” the parents said.

Lindsey shared how she became pregnant with her husband for the first time in 2003. “I thought I would go through the roof with excitement! There were complications with the pregnancy. The amniotic sac ended up rupturing and I was slowly leaking fluid.”

At 15 weeks gestation my son quit developing, most likely because of the complications. I was asked by a doctor if I wanted to terminate the pregnancy. When I refused, my doctor never brought it up again.

My Isaac was born at 21 weeks and 5 days and he lived for 2 minutes before he passed away. He would be nine years old this year…

I’m blessed with 2 children now, that mean the world to me. Abortion, no matter the reason, is never a good means to an end. Children are a gift from God and should be treated as such!

When LSN ran the story of Stacie Crimm, an Oklahoman mother diagnosed with head and neck cancer who decided to put her own life on the line rather than expose her unborn baby to a potentially fatal course of chemotherapy, Lianna became inspired to share her own story:

I simultaneously found out that I had cancer and was pregnant with my fifth child. The doctors even told me that test results showed that my baby would be born with Spina bifida. They tried to convince me to abort.

They thought I was crazy for refusing treatments for a baby that may not live anyways. But God gave me peace in my decision. I not only gave birth to a perfectly 100 percent healthy baby boy, but my cancer actually went into remission on its own.

No one had an explanation for this. But I know doctors don't know everything. Sometimes God chooses to heal our bodies from cancer here on earth, and others He heals in heaven. In my case, we have a testimony of His Glory and a reason for why we choose to believe in Him and follow after Him.

In a culture saturated with death, darkness, and terrifying signs of moral decay, the above stories are like sun rays on a dreary day. Such stories must be told and retold so that everyone fighting for life and family values will never lose sight of what the fight is all about. Such stories of heroism, sacrifice, and love inspire us all to hold fast and never surrender.

Light is always stronger than darkness. These stories have the power to dispel the darkness and give hope. In their light, people from every walk of life see light. Such stories ultimately become the threads that make up the fabric of a beautiful culture of life.