LIFE OR DEATH

I am writing this story with five-week-old baby ShaHannah cuddled in the crook of my arm. We are very blessed to have our ninth birth child, safely born the 25th of August. This makes twelve children in our home. We have also adopted four children that were not wanted, due to their special needs. Tally, our baby girl by birth was born with Down syndrome and went to be with Jesus 17 years ago.

However, I am not writing to share about my family, although I could write volumes about how God has blessed our home. Instead, I want to share about how ordinary families, like yours and mine, are actually saving babies from the abortionist’s knife and suction tube.

Late term abortions are hideous. Have you ever seen pictures? I gently kiss my newest sweetheart on her soft downy head. I can’t help but shudder at the close call two baby boys had, the morning ShaHannah was born. They came so close to being torn limb from limb. One was 33 weeks with dwarfism. The other 30 weeks with a malformed heart. By the end of the day, their birth moms chose life for them. They are already loved by two families, waiting for them to be born.

Tom and I are part of an organization called CHASK, Christian Homes and Special Kids. It is actually a smaller ministry raised up out of the 15,000 families homeschooling their children with special needs called NATHHAN, National Challenged Homeschoolers. These Christians are “putting shoe leather” on their belief that all children are a blessing from the Lord. Children born with medical concerns are just as much a part of the body of Christ as a child born without disabilities.

Presently America debates on whether to have government funding of abortions of disabled babies. I am reminded of Proverbs 12:10b NAS, “Even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.”

Through CHASK, there are thousands of us trying to find these precious babies before it is too late. Most medical personnel are not aware that there are families waiting to adopt special needs children. They encourage swiftly made decisions to abort. The reality for us at CHASK is that there are no unwanted, unborn babies with disabilities. They are very easy to place. CHASK has no waiting children, only hundreds of tender-hearted waiting parents.

Can I tell you about a few of the babies in the last year that have been snatched from death just in time?

Jeffery Jack Williams

Come with me to the living room of an older home. A mother-to-be, eight months along, sits on the couch weeping. The death of her baby is the key to their economic survival. Both she and her husband are diagnosed with Schizophrenia. In order to still receive their SSI income, they must not have a baby in their home.  Recently, they accepted Jesus as their Savior. They could not imagine who would adopt a baby with possible mental disabilities. The only alternative was to terminate the pregnancy.

The phone rang. It was her sister. A listening ear comforted her aching heart.  In fact, the sister gave her hope -- “If I can find a Christian adoptive home for this baby in three days, will you give birth?”

The mother-to-be and daddy-to-be gratefully accepted the sister’s offer. The sister contacted CHASK. Within a few days, Dear Birth Mom letters and pictures from several families were in this hurting couple’s hand. Here is a quote from a NATHHAN family who sees him in church with his new mom and dad each week.

“I have had the privilege of spending time with our youth pastor and wife and their new, wonderful, baby boy!  He is such a beautiful baby and so loved!  It has been a joy to be a part of this adoption.  I am very excited about this new project, CHASK, started by NATHHAN families.”

Sean Andrew Peterson

Sitting cross-legged in a corner of her group home, tears drenched her shredded Kleenex. Melissa, a 23 year old mentally disabled girl, knew right from wrong. In her heart she knew that killing babies was wrong. She could not go through with the abortion. Her boy friend wanted to raise his child. However, mildly mentally disabled, he was just as incapable as she was to care for a baby. For months they had been heavily pressured to abort.

Several months ago, an agency found a family to love their baby. That family backed out.  Another family was found. This family also backed out. No one wanted her baby. She had to face the social worker again. His unkind words and “I-told-you-so’s” left her quivering with grief.  Hence, she faced making a most horrible decision.

CHASK was called by a concerned lawyer. Within several hours, we had two families very willing to adopt their sweet baby. Sean Peterson was born last week, and is now home basking in the love of a mommy and daddy that will love him, no matter was his mental capabilities are.

Ezekiel Creamer

In a lonely hospital crib, a dark, curly-headed boy born with only brain stem function, lay screaming. His head hurt terribly. Swelled with extra water, it put pressure on his skull. Surgery was denied. The doctor decided to let him die a natural death, seeing he had only minimal brain function anyway. No parents for this baby could be found. A social worker, who was touched by his case, contacted CHASK and urgently asked us to find a family to save this baby’s life.

Within hours, several CHASK families were found willing to vouch for the importance of life for this hurting baby boy. A family was chosen in Kansas and immediately ordered the shunt placement. Baby Ezekiel’s life was saved. He is now home with his loving family and doing well, after three shunt revisions.

He is bringing joy to his family and is a testimony of Christ’s caring attitude toward “the least of these.”

Ezekiel’s parents say,

“He is doing much more developmentally than anyone thought he would!  We praise God for saving his life.”

We believe that many Christians, if they only knew how, would gladly lay down their lives for “the least of these”.  CHASK charges no fees. All states require a home study (around $800.00) and lawyer fees ($500.00 – $1,500.) Travel is possibly needed.  Many CHASK families have found lawyers to do the work for free. At present, CHASK is able to hook families up in the United States and Canada.

Before God, we feel morally responsible to do our best to save the life of each baby that comes across our path. It is a battle between life and death.  Sometimes death wins, but mostly, when a birth mother calls CHASK, she is desperately looking for a way to save her baby.

Our family, including our children with special needs, pray desperately for the little tiny lives that are at stake. It is so touching to see our son with Down Syndrome, praying sincerely for the life of another with his disability.  The odds are terrible. Ninety percent of all babies with Down syndrome are aborted. Yet, Jordan’s life was spared for God’s glory. We know that others will be saved too. Can you help us?

We are looking for Christian adoptive families and those who can help us locate adoptive families. We need prayer warriors.

Specially designed “Adverse Prenatal Diagnosis” brochures are here at the office waiting to be handed out to birth parents in crisis.  Do you know where to find birth mommies in crisis? We need help financially to keep up with the office work. CHASK is a 501-C-3 not for profit organization. All donations are tax deductible.

Please pray for our family’s safety as we face the originator of abortion each day. Snatching babies from his gaping maw makes him mad!

Proverbs 24:11-12 says, “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “ But we knew nothing about this, does not he who weight the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?”

SHERRY BUSHNELL
Porthill, Idaho, USA (2004)
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  Website: www.NATHHAN.com

For more information on how your family can get involved with saving special needs babies with CHASK contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  
NATHHAN / CHASK  P.O. Box  39,  Porthill,  ID  83853, Phone: 208-267-6246 www.CHASK.org