Meet Lydia, the 3-year-old changing the Harrisburg debate on late-term abortion

Apr 14, 2016 | 3 comments

This story has been updated with the current state legislation.

Dear Pennsylvania legislators and citizens of Pennsylvania,

Lydia with her newborn photo

 

This is our daughter Lydia.  She is 3 years old and lives in central PA.  She is a happy, active little girl, full of life and interested in everyone around her.  People are drawn to her because of her outgoing nature. She loves to play dress up and pretend she is a princess.  Her determination and perseverance are perhaps her most marked characteristics.  She is the youngest of our two children.

The picture she is holding is of herself at just one day old.  She was born at 25 weeks, weighing 1 lb. 11 oz. and measuring a mere 11 inches long.  She spent 100 days in the Hershey Medical Center where she bravely fought for her life and endured 3 surgeries over that time.  Within only a year’s time, she was considered developmentally on-track with her peers despite having to play catch-up due to her premature birth.  In the face of daunting physical circumstances, Lydia has thrived.  She is remarkable to those who know her story well.

Lydia, born right at 25 weeks and weighing less than two pounds.

Lydia, born right at 25 weeks and weighing less than two pounds.

 

In PA, if Lydia had been born just 5 hours earlier, she could have been legally aborted. Like Will, born at 24 weeks, extremely premature babies from 22 weeks on are not only surviving but thriving.  We watched Lydia and others born earlier than 25 weeks survive the NICU.

Let’s end late-term abortion and let others like Lydia live. That’s why we encourage support for SB3 & HB77.

Sincerely,

Brandon and Natalie Groff – Annville, PA

Help save babies like Lydia – tell your State Representative to support SB3 & HB77: tinyurl.com/YESonSB3

If you have a story like Lydia’s to tell, contact Dan at dbart@pafamily.org