Jamie Stout and her newborn daughter Claire rest after Claire's birth. Below, from left, Pam Caylor, Jamie Stout and Marina Cortopassi discuss the events that led up to Stout's daughter's rescue.
UPDATE, Feb. 24, 2010
Today biggest winners in Las Vegas surprised everybody and are causing quite a bit of excitement.
“Baby Claire arrived a little early — just a little while ago!” a thrilled Pam Caylor, executive director of First Choice Pregnancy Services, said today. “She and her mommy are doing great!”
Claire’s mom, Jamie Stout, had originally planned a late-term abortion but was urged by Caylor and ultrasonographer Marina Cortopassi to reverse Step 1 of the three-step abortion process and carry her daughter to term.
“Marina kept trying to get through to me,” Stout said. “She wouldn’t let up. ‘We can work this out,’ she said. ‘You’re going to show your daughter what a strong woman you are.’”
Everybody was a little surprised when Stout went into early labor yesterday evening. When Claire was taking a little time to move during the night, the decision was made to go with a C-section around 8 a.m. this morning.
That’s when Claire entered the world in fine shape. She weighed in at 5 pounds 2 ounces, and measured 18.5 inches long. Her Apgar (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration) assessment for newborns score was a 8-9 out of a possible 10.
“It’s all good,” reported a very happy Caylor. “Jamie and baby Claire are going home in two days. It’s amazing.”
Both inspiring mom and baby certainly prove choosing life is the answer. And Caylor and Cortopassi show what never giving up can accomplish.
Caylor added, “Thanks for all your prayers.”
Feb. 20, 2010
Not many people in Las Vegas beat the odds.
Last November, one yet-to-be-born baby with the highest odds stacked against her did, thanks to a couple of never-give-up pro-life people and her courageous mom.
The dramatic intervention to rescue this baby is only part of the story. The far-reaching lesson the story tells is one that many pro-life workers and even doctors aren’t aware of or are reluctant to admit: Some abortions already under way can be reversed to save the baby.
“The execution had been ordered and started.”
So remembers Pam Caylor, executive director of First Choice Pregnancy Services in Las Vegas, about this major rescue of a 20-week-old unborn baby.
Earlier, Caylor had learned from First Choice’s ultrasonographer Marina Cortopassi that neighbor Jamie Stout was considering abortion. Caylor had Cortopassi contact the woman. She was on her way for the abortion. Despite that, Cortopassi drove to the facility, only to find the woman’s father waiting in the car for his daughter inside. They talked. He agreed to save the baby’s life.
Inside, workers had already started the abortion. Because the pregnancy was at 20 weeks, the abortion was a three-day process. Step 1, explained Caylor, was to insert “the laminaria — seaweed dilators placed in the cervix to create a hole big enough for a dead baby to be removed.”
Once outside the facility, “Marina kept trying to get through to me,” recalled Stout. “She wouldn’t let up. ‘We can work this out,’ she said. ‘You’re going to show your daughter what a strong woman you are.”
Stout already had a young daughter being cared for by her parents. But that wasn’t all: She had lost her job, fallen off the clean-and-sober road, and become homeless before returning home. Now Marina was assuring her this abortion could still be reversed.
“I don’t even like to confront a fly,” said Cortopassi of her stance by that facility. “I felt nervous and tense, but the Holy Spirit was guiding and pushing me along the whole way.”
Simultaneously, Caylor was trying to find a doctor to intervene to save the baby. “The battle for me was finding a doctor who would take her,” she said. “I don’t think it’s ever been done in Vegas before. I don’t think they knew it could be done — and most pro-life people don’t know it could be done. But I knew it could be.”
Caylor said the time frame was small, only about six hours to remove the laminaria. After several “Nos,” Caylor got the First Choice folks together to pray because Stout hadn’t agreed to reverse the process.
“It was miraculous how God worked the whole thing out,” said Caylor. “The phone rang. Two different doctors said they would help — one would call the Emergency Room and explain what to do.”
Seconds later Cortopassi called to say Stout and her family decided against the abortion. They were off to St. Rose Dominican Hospital’s Sienna Campus in Henderson. So was Caylor, saying the first step was to pray over Stout and her baby. After all, the battle wasn’t over.
The doctor scanned the baby’s heart to make sure it was still beating since Stout didn’t know if the heart had been injected with medication to stop it. Yes, the baby’s heart was beating.
However, the attempt to remove the laminaria failed. The ER doctor thought it was too late. But then, over the phone, the ER doctor got another doctor’s direction for a second attempt.
It proved successful. The laminaria were out. Stout felt better, filled with hope and peace. Five hours had passed.
Next, Caylor found an ob-gyn willing to accept a high-risk mother. Two days later, the doctor was noticeably pleased the baby’s heartbeat was strong.
Baby Claire is due next month. And her mother?
“I feel totally excited and completely blessed now, given a second chance,” she said. “It was a big wake-up call not only for me but for my family, where we stand with our belief with God, faith and when life begins.”
Stout described how God healed the whole family — her mother, father and other young daughter they were raising for her — and pulled them together as a family. Stout added that with the grace of God, literally overnight, she lost all desire to get high and was freed from addiction.
Caylor called God’s restoration of this family a miracle.
“They went in 18 hours from thinking of taking this baby’s life to being thrilled and realizing what a gift this little baby is from God,” she said.
Stout remembered, “When I first met Pam at the ER that day reversing the abortion, she knew my history and still never judged me. The woman embraced me as just a pregnant mommy.”
Stout further explained that she didn’t know where to turn, nor was she aware of the brutality done to the baby in an abortion. She said the business lied to her about the high number of laminaria they used – 13 instead of the usual 3.
Now, as a mission, she wants to share her story with other women to encourage them to take an ultrasound instead of getting an abortion.
Both Caylor and Kathleen Miller, pro-life coordinator for the Diocese of Las Vegas, indicated that there are pro-life people and doctors who don’t realize some abortions, although started, can be reversed. As in the case with Stout, women generally make a choice to do late-term abortions out of desperation, feeling they have no other option.
“It took a little for Jamie to open her mind to the possibility it wasn’t too late,” said Miller. “But Marina had the courage to approach her neighbor, telling her there are other options, and we’re here and willing to help.”
She advised sidewalk counselors to offer help to noticeably pregnant women who walk in then walk back out of abortion centers still noticeably pregnant.
“It isn’t over till it’s over,” said Caylor, who finds this reversal exceptionally inspiring considering First Choice already saves well over 2,000 babies a year in Las Vegas.
“Be open to God speaking to you and intervening,” she advises. Tell the woman coming out of the facility it’s not too late: “We can reverse this. Don’t be afraid to fight those demons of death and murder till the last second.”
Staff writer Joseph Pronechen is based in Trumbull, Connecticut.
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WOW! So beautiful!
All Glory to God! Thank you for this story!!
For at least a year, my family has been praying a prayer every day to save a baby from abortion. We decided to give our baby a name, so we called her “Baby Claire.” You cannot imagine the emotions that went through our mind when I opened my e-mail this morning that a baby named Claire was saved from abortion in miraculous fashion! It took only maybe 10 seconds a day to pray for Baby Claire. To have this prayer answered in such a miraculous fashion is awe-inspiring! Thank you for sharing this story with us!
Dave and Mona Cattapan
I’m very proud to read about my granddaughter-in-law and her actions in this situation. Marina, I am so very proud of you, and proud of your actions. Love, Grandma
This is so beautiful. I did not know about reversals of abortions. That is wonderful to know.
Christ’s peace
Simply a blessing. I was 16 and in high school when I had my daughter, I graduated with over a 4.0 gpa in both high school and college… my beautiful daughter is almost 18 now and will be attending college to be a nurse, with God, all things are possible. Marina, God bless you, what a wonderful feeling to know you helped save baby Claire! This is such an amazing story….....
My wife and I had the chance to visit with Jaime and her family this past Sunday. It was so nice hear each of their testimony about God’s grace. The baby’s room is decorated very nice and has a feeling of warmth and safety. We happen to be fellow parishoners with the Cortopassi family and co-laborers at First Choice Pregnancy Services. I remember taking a call from Marina the night this happened. Marina and Pam were looking for a doctor and funds to cover the expenses. I could hear how scared Marina was, but I could also hear how determined she was. Marina is an amazing compassionate woman and she has a husband who walks the walk. We hope to have Jaime, baby Claire and her big sister as our guest at the Annual First Choice Pregnancy Services Dinner this Fall. It should be quite the event to hear her testimony!
The overwhelming response I hear upon discussing this with people is that they had no idea an in-progress reversal was possible. Praise God that this life was saved, a family healed, and a community was mobilized.
Many thanks to NCRegister and all those involved behind the scenes to ensure that in this case, what happens in Vegas isn’t staying in Vegas. First Choice Pregnancy Services is a ministry that struggles with all the same challenges as those across the country - apathy, funding challenges, an uphill public relations battle, and more “work” than hands to do it. My hope, though, is that this story will encourage and edify similar centers throughout the US, and the broader global community.
We are humbled that God has chosen to use this ministry. I personally feel blessed beyond measure to have been gifted a wife as wonderful as Marina - and a ministry that is making a real difference in the lives of those so much in need.
Marina has been a true blessing for Jamie and Baby Claire! What an amazing gift of life that Marina has saved. The joy in Jamie’s heart assures me that she will be a wonderful mommy to Claire and to her big sister. I thank God for Marina and her courage and leap of faith she took to help save this baby. I can’t wait to meet Claire!!!! There are a lot of people waiting to meet her, as well, and already loving this miracle baby girl!
Wow!! What an amazing God we serve!!! Jamie you have always been my miracle and I weep tears of joy with you!!!!Iam blessed to call you friend. love you
MARINA, GOD BLESS YOU FOR NOT GIVING UP ON THAT WHOLE FAMILY!! What a wonderful story! Baby Claire is going to have a great and loving family. Every baby deserves a chance AT LIFE!! I am so very proud of you, the mother and her new baby, your co-workers, and your family! You have turned their whole world around and have shown them what God can really do! They are going to have so many more blessings from God with this new baby! Thank You for everything you do!I am very proud to be your Wisconsin Cousin!!!!! Love and God’s Blessings to All!
Thanks Joseph for writing this story! The truth shall set us free! The importance of writing this truth in the saving of a baby against the best of the devils advocates in trying to kill it brings light into the darkness!
The whole world needs to know what is going on in the abortion mills and in the minds of those who do not desire to do God’s will and knowingly offend Him. We need all the TRUTH to be heard and seen! May we continue to pray for the conversion of the world!
Sister Anne Sophie
http://www.societyofthebodyofchrist.com
I know that baby Claire is going to be a blessing to her entire family, including those of us associated with First Choice Pregnancy Services, I pray that this story will allow the saving of baby Claire to be just the beginning of those reaching out to women in need who have lost hope and feel they have no choice, we do indeed serve an awesome God!
Marina, Pam, J and the entire team at First Choice, ‘Well done, good and faithful servants!’
I GIVE ALL THE GLORY TO OUR LORD GOD
WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO PRAY AND THE WORDS WE PRAY BECOME FIRE ON OUR TONGUES,MATT.3:11;ACTS2:3.
THANK YOU ALL FOR STANDING IN THE GAP FOR PAM CAYLOR AND HER STAFF
GOD BLESS YOU
HEARTS OF PRAYER ,ICLV
LUKE 2 :36-38
ANNA LOUISE
GOD DID IT AGAIN WE SERVE AN AWSOME GOD
NEVER STOP PRAYING FOR F C P C,PAM CAYLOR AND HER STAFF
PLEASE GET INVOLVED WITH THE “40 DAY FOR LIFE PRAYER VIGIL”
IT BOOST YOUR FAITH LIKE A HOLY SPIRIT ADRENALINE SHOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IN HIS CARE
ALWAYS,ANNA LOUISE
LUKE 2 :36-38
THANK YOU LORD! Thank you for Claire and all of your children that Love you so much and prayed us through this. You have shown your face and I am on my knees! Praise Your Holy Name! I promise to teach Claire, as well as continue to teach Vanessa, Your unfailing love. Please dont ever forsake my girls and walk with them forever and forever, we all need you desparately! OXOX
Ps Thank you for my parents. Thank you for their love and support and for chosing them to love me!
pss HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINA! Claire was born the morning after your birthday….I cant get over how awesome our relationship is and will be!
We will be home as soon as my lil premie princess can drink a few more ml. steadily. So soon! Her lungs are already showing to need no assistacne once thought may be needed. She is CUTE and looks alot like V did when she was born.
Love,
Jamie
Thank you lord for giving us this mirical!!!!
Mommy I can’t wait for you to come home.
Also thank you mrs.Marina for help saving this baby!
My Papa,Grandma,Mommy and I can’t wait to bring home our little angel.
Thank you everyone for praying for my little baby sister!
Once again than you god!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love,
Vanessa
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Cor. 13:7 You go girl, she was always meant to be, she will be with us in the end…I love U. Cuzzy E.
This proves, time and time again, there is something divine and we need to trust our DIVINE God with prayers and our strong faith. Let’s keep praying and not only praying but acting as all of these people involved with Baby Claire did it, prayer and action. Let’s pray and act to overcome the horrendous things that are destroying our families and attacking our children/youth in so many ways: media, songs, video games, sex programs, etc,. Blessings to all for carrying out the torch to save this wonderful Child of God!!!
sf :o)
God blessed both of you. He was with you all the time. You are so brave. I had to choose in 1972 and I am so glad I chose life. My son is now 37. I was so afraid but I knew I would be killing a life if i chose abortion. Facing my unwed pregnancy was not as hard as I thought it would be. Once I let my family know they totally backed my decision and helped me. The grace of God os always there for us. We just need to accept it.
what a beautiful blessing & story of hope & healing! our GOD is an amazing GOD of restoration,mercy&grace;. as a grandmother raising my daughters 1yr old son, i understand the pain of the grandparents & the joy of a life being saved. this story gives me hope for my daughter to also turn away from drugs & be restored to loving her son & living a life full of GOD’S abundant love & blessings! thank you for this amazing example. many blessings on all involved! keep inspiring & working to save the babies.
Beautiful story!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
IN a day and age where society wants to “save a tree and kill the children”, this was a refreshing and beautiful story with an ending that only God could write!! I can’t wait to see how He will use this story to inspire other moms!! I love what Dave and Mona Cattapan said in their post about praying for the life of an unborn child every day!Gonna start adding that to my prayer list!
@Dave and Mona Cattapan
Isn’t it amazing how God works behind the scenes- Praise Him! This is an awesome story and one the shows just how precious life is!
Just curious if you have a servicesuch as this in North Carolina. I know of a few maternity homes who would house mothers to be in crisis and provide medical care & coverage. It’s been a life long goal for me to in the very least raise awareness of the harshness and cruelty that abortions are made of and the grief that comes along afterward. I would love to get involved and help save another innocent soul. Much respect to the mother who saved her baby from eminent danger and destruction. The world is a better place. Stay Blessed and give that little angel a really big smooch from all of us who are moved and inspired by such a breath-taking story.
I thank God for this brave Mom! My Mom was told that she should abort me 43 years ago because of very high possibilities of being deformed. My parents cried over this and accepted this and allowed me to go full-term! I am perfectly healthy! I thank God for Mom’s who are brave and don’t listen to the fears that surround them!
I just commented… and I forgot to say notify me of follow-up comments : )
Praise the Lord! We all must be diligent and strong in the Lord… especialy outside of our own comfort zone because that’s when the Holy Spirit can really work! Keep fighting the good fight for our unborn & their families :-)
PRAISE GOD!!!! PRAISE GOD!!!!!
ALMIGHTY God is sooo GOOD and ALMIGHTY God is ALWAYS WORTHY to be praised!
Wow, this is an incredible miracle! I, like so many others had no idea that this was a 3 day procedure. Thank God for such caring people around this desperate woman -that is the true meaning of love and compassion - no judgement - thats not our place, just love and compassion.
Praise God.. choose Life…......
THE CULTURE OF DEATH IS SO DISCOURAGING BUT STORIES LIKE THIS REMIND ME OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD AND THE MIRACLE OF LIFE, GIVING HOPE AND COURAGE, ENCOURAGEMENT TO NOT GIVE UP OR GIVE IN!
IT GETS DARKEST BEFORE THE DAWN AND VICTORY IS ASSURED NO MATER THE APPEARANCES!
PRAYER IS ALSO THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON ON THIS SPIRITUAL BATTLEFIELD!
GOD BLESS ALL!
God Blessed you. Amen.
I have known Marina for a while now and thank God that she is such a blessing to those around her. I am so glad that she can be that beacon of hope in such a dark world and inspire so many…You are truely a great mother, friend and sister -in-law. May God continue to bless you, your family and those around you….
just wanted to update everyone on Claire’s beautiful life…..she is now 3 1/2 months old and doing great. She actually laughed yesterday, at her sister. She is a super good baby, she sleeps thru the night already. She is the biggest blessing our family has had in long time!!!! She is starting to smile and coo a lot. The joy our hearts feel when she does the smallest thing is amazing. Our family can be stopped on a dime just to catch a smile from her. Thank you GOD for knowing the peace that would come out of this journey. Thank you for the family that blindly prayed for our little Claire and actually got to read of Your grace on this website!! I have not yet been able to give much TIME in the clinic to give back what I was given, (a chance to be a mommy!) But I have had my eyes wide open on the subject. I am forever changed by the pro life/anti abortion movement. I truly believe we need to save every baby. We were in the March for Life walk proudly carrying Claire’s picture, begging others to see the light. My whole family will be warriors for the cause from this day forward! I beg God to continue to bless our little Claire with a WONDERFUL life full of love and to know her FATHER in heaven and continue to grow up loving him. Other than that, thank you everyone for you love and prayers. Please don’t be defeated in your fight! God is AWESOME! and so is being a mommy. Love, Jamie (Vanessa and Claire’s Mommy!)
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