In 1977, Melissa’s biological mother was a 19-year-old college student when she had a saline infusion abortion that was meant to end Melissa’s life.
Although her biological mother thought that she was less than five months pregnant when she had the abortion, the fact that Melissa survived and weighed almost 3 pounds indicates that her biological mother was much further along in her pregnancy than she realized.
In fact, when Melissa obtained her medical records in 2007 that detail the abortion procedure that she survived, one of the first notations by a doctor after she survived was that she looked like she was approximately 31 weeks gestation!
Despite the initial concerns that doctors had regarding her ability to survive, today Melissa has not only survived, but thrived, as do thousands and thousands of abortion survivors.
Although Melissa grew up knowing that she was adopted and loved, she didn’t find out the truth about being an abortion survivor until she was 14-years-old. Finding out the truth about her life changed her forever, and as a result, the world.
Melissa, ultimately, went searching for answers about her survival and her biological family, and since 2007, she has had contact with both sides of her biological family in varying degrees. Melissa’s unification with her birthmother, Ruth, is an encouragement to so many who have been impacted by abortion and even adoption. Their story is more than just one impacted by abortion—it’s one impacted by love.
Copies of Melissa’s birth records, which chronicle the abortion attempt that was meant to end her life and more information about Melissa’s survival, her ministry, and her work to extend love and forgiveness to all who are impacted by abortion, including her own biological family, can be found on her personal website: www.melissaohden.com.
Melissa is a pro-life speaker, leader, advocate, and social worker, who often appears on television and radio shows such as Fox News, Focus on the Family, The 700 Club, 100 Huntley St., EWTN, Life News, One America News, Hannity, Andrew Wommack Ministries, and more. Melissa is the author of You Carried Me: A Daughter’s Memoir. Her second book, which will focus on other abortion survivors breaking their silence, will be published in January 2024.