THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 6, 1996 TAG: 9611060002
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A26 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 31 lines
I take offense at the Oct. 23 letter, ``Partial-birth abortions - other side.'' The author ``applauds that someone in Washington is aware that all the laws in the world won't give a chance at life to a child who never formed correctly.''
My daughter, Pamela Michelle Leland, was born 20 years ago with severe physical birth defects. The doctors told her father and me that if she lived through the night she would be a ``human vegetable,'' confined to a wheelchair. If I were carrying Pamela today, I am certain I would have been advised to abort her as ``merely a medical response to a child who never formed correctly.''
Pamela has grown into an intelligent, beautiful and sensitive young lady - mature beyond her years. She has endured 26 major operations along with much physical and emotional anguish. Nothing was ever easy for Pam, but in her quest to ``be like everyone else,'' she surpassed everyone's hopes and dreams.
Presently studying elementary education at Old Dominion University, Pam is an academic honors student who excels not only in her classes but in life. She is a member of the nationally ranked ODU varsity sailing team, plays trumpet in the Pep Band and is an academic adviser. In her years at Bayside High School, she won countless academic and humanitarian awards.
Not bad for someone who ``was not formed correctly.''
JO MARIE TONA LELAND
Virginia Beach, Oct. 23, 1996 by CNB