Military Mom a True Hero

AIR FORCE NEWS, Aug. 4 — An official publication of the U.S. Air Force has reported that Reserve Staff Sgt. Becky Murphy, who was diagnosed with aggressive cervical cancer three months into her pregnancy, put off the fight to save her own life so she could give life to her baby. The article tells how she had to defy the advice of friends, family and doctors to do so.

“The medical advice was to basically have an abortion, have a complete hysterectomy as soon as possible and start chemotherapy if it was needed,” Murphy said.

Doctors say the baby — Katie, now almost 3 months old — will be fine, and so will Becky.

One person who stood by Becky's decision to forgo cancer treatment in order to bring the baby to term was her husband, Reserve Senior Airman Chris Murphy. “Once Becky made her decision to have the baby and then face the cancer,” he said, “I was 100% behind her.”

Preemie Survives Crash

KOIN.COM, Aug. 4 — An unborn baby has been saved after its mother was fatally injured in a collision with a train, according to a Portland, Ore., news station.

On Aug. 1, a Willamette and Pacific Railroad train struck a car at the crossing on Nashville Road in Eddyville, Ore. Dawn King, 31, was airlifted to Oregon Health and Science University and died hours after her baby was successfully delivered by emergency Caesarean. The baby, which was two months premature, was listed in serious condition.

New Zealand: No Euthanasia

CYBERCAST NEWS SERVICE, July 30 — An attempt to legalize euthanasia in New Zealand died an early death when lawmakers voted narrowly against a bill that would have allowed seriously ill people to ask a physician to help them kill themselves.

The Death with Dignity Bill was defeated in its first reading by 60 votes to 57. An individual member of parliament (MP) introduced the bill, not the government, and MPs were allowed to vote according to their conscience rather than along party lines.

It placed the euthanasia issue before the New Zealand Parliament for the first time since 1995, when an almost identical measure was defeated by a considerably larger margin.

Abortion Mill to Close

OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING, Aug. 4 — It is hoped more women and children in Oregon will be protected from the dangers of abortion since All Women's Health Services Clinic closed.

The facility had provided primary care, birth control and abortions for nearly 30 years.

The abortion center closed its Eugene office last summer. Administrators had announced in July that the Portland office would have to close if it didn't receive $50,000 by the first week in August.

Staff had not been paid in several weeks, rent was two months overdue and the facility owes $80,000 in back