A Texas woman recently shared that she believes her son exists because she was able to abort her daughter during her previous pregnancy. To her, that experience was moving — so much so that she named her new baby after Roe v. Wade: Reid Owen Edwards.
At first, that might make us pause. How could someone name a child after the case that legalized abortion? But when we look closer at Taylor and Travis Edwards’ story, we see something deeper — a picture of the heartbreak, confusion, and fear that drives so many people toward abortion.
And as Christians, we’re called not just to point out injustice, but to respond with both compassion and truth.
A Heartbreaking Diagnosis
After years of infertility and multiple rounds of IVF, Taylor and Travis were thrilled to learn they were expecting in late 2022. “Finally, it’s my turn to be a mom,” Taylor said.
But at 17 weeks, an ultrasound revealed devastating news. Their baby girl, Phoebe, had a fatal condition called encephalocele, where the brain grows outside the skull. Doctors told them she would not survive.
Taylor said the options she was given were painful: wait for Phoebe to pass in the womb, carry her to term knowing she’d die shortly after birth, or “end the pregnancy.” Her doctor claimed that abortion would be the safest option for the baby and for Taylor’s future fertility. But because they lived in Texas, abortion was not available.
As she thought about carrying her precious baby to term, she said, “I was terrified… I couldn’t do it.”
The couple traveled out of state for an abortion, believing it was the right choice. Taylor emphasized that people, like Pro-Lifers, assume there is some “secret option” parents in situations like hers are just ignoring. But she said, “In that moment, I knew I did not want to be pregnant anymore… It’s really hard to be visibly pregnant carrying around a baby who’s dying.”
Story continues below.
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The Lie That Abortion Is Compassion
Taylor’s story is heartbreaking, and no one should have to face a diagnosis like hers alone. And carrying a child with a life-limiting condition is one of the deepest pains a parent can endure. But her doctors — and the abortion industry — told her a devastating lie: that abortion was the compassionate choice.
The “safe” surgical abortion Taylor was promised left her with devastating physical damage. The procedure destroyed her uterus, forcing her to undergo full reconstructive surgery — something that could have been avoided if she had been given the truth about its risks.
Abortion doesn’t end suffering; it adds one tragedy to another.
In the end, the Edwards family was led into isolation, not healing. But there are other options — ones rooted in community, compassion, and truth. Ministries like Abel Speaks, right here in Texas, walk alongside families who receive life-limiting diagnoses for their babies. They offer medical guidance, emotional support, and spiritual care, helping parents cherish their child’s life, however short it may be.
Responding with Compassion and Truth
As Pro-Life Christians, stories like Taylor’s should move us to action. Many people choose abortion because they’re afraid and don’t know where to turn. Without the hope of Jesus Christ, life’s hardest moments can feel unbearable.
That’s why we must be the hands and feet of Jesus — praying for families, offering real help, fighting for protection in the Capitol, and speaking truth lovingly and boldly. Romans 12:15 calls us to “weep with those who weep.” Compassion doesn’t mean agreeing with the world’s solutions; it means loving people enough to point them toward God’s.
Real Hope Comes from Christ
Taylor and Travis named their son after Roe v. Wade to honor what they believed gave them hope. But as believers, we know true hope doesn’t come from a court case — it comes from Christ alone, the One who brings Life out of death and peace out of pain.
Our culture is desperate for compassion, but only Jesus offers the kind that heals. Through Him, and through ministries like Abel Speaks, families can find peace even in heartbreak — and learn that love, not abortion, is the answer.
Now more than ever, let’s lead with compassion and truth. Because it’s not the ability to get an abortion that gives us hope — it’s our perfect Savior, who meets every need with mercy and grace.
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