Our Team

Melissa Ohden

As the survivor of a failed saline infusion abortion, Melissa Ohden founded The Abortion Survivors Network (ASN), the only healing and advocacy organization for abortion survivors. In addition, Melissa is a pro-life speaker, leader, and advocate who often appears on television and radio shows. She has spoken on Fox News, The 700 Club, Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), One America News (OAN), Hannity, Focus on the Family, and more. 

Having earned her Master’s in Social Work, she speaks from a place of wisdom and authority mixed with much love and forgiveness. She is the author of You Carried Me: A Daughter’s Memoir, which chronicles her journey of meeting the birth mother who attempted to abort her. And Melissa is currently working on her second book, which focuses on other abortion survivors’ stories.

Alayna Shamo

Alayna is the Special Projects Associate at ASN and has been a part of the team since January 2022. She has a Bachelor’s in Political Science from BYU-Idaho and a passion for championing abortion survivors who she feels can be a voice for the voiceless unborn. She is experienced with, and enjoys using, all types of software to advance the mission of ASN with online courses, fundraising tracking, healing platforms, and data analysis. Alayna also has experience as a lobbying assistant under Sapphire Strategies, LLC. In her personal life, she cherishes her role as a wife and new mother to a rambunctious little girl.

Alli Bowers

For over 15 years, Alli has dedicated her professional life to the pro-life movement.

Kara West

Kara West has been with the Abortion Survivors Network (ASN) for just over two years and continues to feel honored to serve abortion survivors and their families. She loves connecting abortion survivors with other survivors, programs, and resources, in addition to supporting families who are learning how to raise an abortion survivor or support the survivor in their life.

Before joining ASN, Kara had been a therapist specializing in working with children and families for nine years. She is enthusiastic about pie (both the making of and the eating of), gardening, camping, and being outdoors!  She loves living the farm life in Minnesota with her husband and almost 3-year-old son.  Currently, they are in their second adoption journey and eagerly await adding to their family.

Molly Schwery

Molly started with the Abortion Survivors Network in June of 2023.  She brings with her a gift of organization, love of deep relationships and desire to uphold the dignity of life – with a passion for making those she encounters feel seen and loved. Prior to joining ASN, Molly taught 8^th grade math, was a Payroll Supervisor, and an Office Manager.  Her favorite job is her vocation of wife and mother. She resides in Kansas City with her husband Adam of 13 years, their 8-year-old son, and Blaze their whoodle (wheaten terrier and poodle) puppy. Molly loves daily walks, iced coffee, learning new things, and playing board games/cards. She feels most alive when out in nature – soaking in the beauty of God’s creation.

Sarah Moe

Sarah Moe is a natural leader and decision-maker. Her diverse background includes working with federal affairs, political fundraising, trade associations, PACs, and grassroots campaigns. Sarah is the President and founder of Sapphire Strategies. As an engaging communicator, Sarah’s lobbying efforts have led to successful campaigns on high-profile issues, including taxes, healthcare, trade, immigration, and pensions. She enjoys using her advocacy skills for Abortion Survivors Network. 

Growing up on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana led Sarah to immerse herself in Hispanic culture. She shares a passion for the military community and those struggling with disabilities. Sarah values authentic relationships and believes authenticity drives successful advocacy for policy and legal changes. She lives by the 4 Cs…cool, calm, collected, and curious.

Thea Barry

Born and raised in Georgia, Thea Barry has been active in the pro-life community since childhood. From a young age she knew one thing, that she wanted to help others. This led to pursuing a career in social work and specifically honing in on a desire to serve women in crisis and the babies they carried. Thea joined the Abortion Survivors Network in mid-2023 after spending the last thirteen years working as an adoption professional. Thea has extensive experience and specialized training in case management, the de-escalation of abortion-minded scenarios, in the operation of local pregnancy centers throughout the Southeast, and in counseling women and men through crisis experiences. She is dedicated to the preservation of life within and outside of the womb. She joins the ASN as the Survivor Connections Coordinator to help connect abortion survivors with the community and resources needed during their healing journey.

Outside of her professional life, Thea is married to her college sweetheart. Together they have four children, three biologically and one through the gift of adoption. They are blessed to have an open adoption with both of their sons’ birth parents and consider them to be family. Thea has a love for gardening and taking care of plants, as well as going on walks with her golden doodle, Maple.