wfn.org | Pro Life Dinner Guests Hear a Powerful Story

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

16-June-1997 
GA97030 
 
              Pro Life Dinner Guests Hear a Powerful Story 
 
                           by Dee Wade 
 
SYRACUSE--The miraculous life-story of young Andrew Goin was presented to 
an appreciative audience at the Presbyterians Pro-Life (PPL) dinner, held 
on Saturday evening, June 14, at the 209th General Assembly, meeting in 
Syracuse, N. Y. 
 
    The story was told by Whitney Goin, Andrew's mother.  Ms. Goin's 
self-described "perfect life" was disrupted two years ago by the news that 
the baby growing within her was "seriously malformed."  Five months 
pregnant at the time, most of the baby's vital organs were outside of his 
body.  Ms. Goin and her husband, Bruce, were advised by doctors to consider 
a late-term abortion, due to their child's diminished chances of survival 
to full term, and even less chances beyond that. 
 
    But abortion was never an option for the couple, according to Ms. Goin. 
 
    On October 26, 1995, Andrew was delivered by Caesarian section.  No 
full-throated bellowing came from this newborn, said Ms. Goin, but only the 
softest, most tentative "peep."  That sound was music enough to the ears of 
his mother.  He was alive, and her desire was for the child "to live as 
long as God wanted him to live." 
 
    Two hours later, the baby went through the first of a series of major 
surgeries.  For the initial six weeks of his life, he breathed with the aid 
of a respirator.  He underwent eight transfusions, along with countless 
other medical procedures.  For two months, Andrew lived within his 
hospital's Intensive Care Unit. 
 
    On Christmas Eve, Whitney and Bruce finally were able to bring their 
baby home.  Other challenges faced him, but in March of 1996 he was 
baptized as a child of God's covenant.  He is now growing toward his second 
birthday, with few problems remaining from his earlier struggle between 
life and death. 
 
    Ms. Goin told the crowd of approximately 200 people that Andrew was 
unable to attend the PPL dinner because he was back home in Florida 
suffering from "a nasty ear infection."  Later she expressed her gratitude 
and relief that Andrew's physical condition could now be described within 
the range of "normal" childhood diseases. 
 
    When asked if, after Andrew grows up, she will ever tell him that she 
had the power to end his life before his death, she answered with an 
emphatic "No!"  Explaining her answer, Ms. Goin said, "I don't feel I had 
that choice.  The primary responsibility for bringing children into this 
world is God's, not ours." 
 
    Whitney Goin states that "partial birth abortion is wrong."  That 
medical procedure, also known as intact dilation and extraction, is at the 
center of the current debate over abortion within the Presbyterian Church 
(U.S.A.).  Several overtures have been sent to the 209th General Assembly 
which address this particular issue.  Whitney Goin was introduced by her 
pastor, the Rev. Dr. Howard Edington of the 1st Presbyterian Church of 
Orlando, Florida.  He, in turn, was introduced by Terry Schlossberg, 
executive director of Presbyterians Pro-Life.  Donald Elliot, president of 
PPL, opened the meeting with prayer after welcoming the guests.  He was 
asked how he thought the evening went.  "I was very pleased and moved," he 
said, "especially to hear from a parishoner who worked through a difficult 
pregnancy with the support of her pastor and the ministry of her local 
church."  John Sheldon, vice president of PPL, closed the meeting with 
prayer and invited the guests to dinner. 

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