Opinion column by Adelina Militaru, President of Studenți pentru viață București, the Bucharest branch of Romania’s pro-life students organization:

Join us on the side of love, truth, responsibility, and support!

“United for Life” is this year’s March for Life theme. Why become united for life? Because we have been given the gift of life, we need to help others enjoy it, too!

Only 34% of all Romanian babies conceived in 1996 were born. Of all the babies who received the gift of life in that year, one was not supposed to be born. Why? Because everyone around that baby’s mother was against the baby’s life. The doctors had said the baby would be born with a disability. They said that the child would be a torment to its parents, that it would have no future and that the easiest thing for everyone would be to… not be born.

That child is me. I was lucky enough to have a mom who chose life despite all the pressures! On March 26, 1996, even though I was born prematurely, life won! The joy was double for my parents, because it turned out that all the claims of those who urged them to abort their baby were completely false: they gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby!

Knowing my life story and the fact that I was so close to death, every time I have a happy moment I think of all the children of my generation who didn’t have the chance to live. I always think about all those children who did even had the chance to be born and that they had a purpose in this life, but never had the chance to fulfil it. The fact that I am alive motivates me to be one of the voices of the children who have died through abortion, and I believe that all of us who enjoy the gift of life should support life. How? By being aware of pregnancy crises, by being actively involved in pro-life activities or even by simple actions, such as a kind word of encouragement, a gentle nudge.

Pregnancy crisis can happen anywhere, regardless of social status, occupation or age. Any woman can go through such a crisis: our sisters, our college or university classmates, a neighbor. When we encounter such a situation, the best thing we can do is to stand by the mother, to support her, to show her that abortion is not her only option, and to help her enjoy the most precious gift she has received: the life of her child.

I urge you to stand together for life, to open our hearts to women facing a pregnancy crisis, and to work together to help the little ones in the womb grow up and experience all the beautiful moments awaiting them ahead in their lives.