...The Rest of the Story

Colorado State Representative Ted Harvey was leaving the House chambers for the weekend back in May when he heard the Democrat speaker announce that the coming Monday would be the final day of this year's General Assembly. He mentioned numerous resolutions which would be addressed on the final day, including one by House Majority Leader Alice Madden, honoring the 90th anniversary of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. Representaive Harvey, staunchly Pro-Life, was disgusted at the idea of celebrating something like the murder of countless innocents and, the next evening while he was at a Pro-Life fund-raiser, he witnessed a handicapped young lady by the name of Gianna Jessen who was there as a guest. She then began to give her testimony. When her biological mother was 17 years old and seven and a half months pregnant, she went to a Planned Parenthood clinic to have an abortion. As God would have it, the abortion failed and a beautiful 2-pound baby girl was brought into the world. Unfortunately, she was born with cerebral palsy and the doctors thought that she would never survive. The doctors were wrong. Ted introduced himself to Gianna and asked if she would consider staying in Colorado until Monday and being his guest at the final session of the House, perhaps singing the National Anthem and telling her story. She soon agreed and the stage was set. Following a committee hearing, I rushed into the House chambers just as the opening morning prayer was about to be given. Between the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, I wrote a quick note to the speaker of the House explaining that Gianna is an advocate for cerebral palsy. I took the note to the speaker and asked if I could have my friend open the last day of session by singing the national anthem. Without any hesitation the speaker took the microphone and said, "Before we begin, Representative Harvey has made available for us Gianna Jessen to sing the national anthem." Gianna sang the most amazing rendition of The Star Spangled Banner that you could possibly imagine. Every person in the entire chamber was completely still, quiet and in awe of this frail young lady's voice. Due to her cerebral palsy, Gianna often loses her balance, and shortly after starting to sing she grabbed my arm to stabilize herself, and I could tell that she was shaking. Suddenly, midway through the song, she forgot the words and began to hum and then said, "Please forgive me; I am so nervous." She then immediately began singing again and every House member and every guest throughout the chambers began to sing along with her to give her encouragement and to lift her up. The entire House roared its approval at the end of her song. A reporter came up and told her that it was the most beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner she'd ever heard. House members took turns introducting their guests. Ted Harvey waited until the end, for dramatic effect. Finally he took the microphone. Members, I would like to introduce you to a new friend and hero of mine -- her name is Gianna Jessen. She is visiting us today from Nashville, Tennessee, where she is an accomplished recording artist. She has cerebral palsy and was raised in foster homes before being adopted at the age of four. She was born prematurely and weighed only 2 pounds at birth. She remained in the hospital for almost three months. A doctor once said she had a great will to live and that she fought for her life. Eventually she was able to leave the hospital and be placed in foster care. Because of her cerebral palsy, her foster mother was told that it was doubtful that she would ever crawl or walk. She could not sit up independently. Through the prayers and dedication of her foster mother, she eventually learned to sit up, crawl, then stand. Shortly before her fourth birthday, she began to walk with leg braces and a walker. She continued in physical therapy and after a total of four surgeries, she was able to walk without assistance. She still falls sometimes, but she says she has learned how to fall gracefully after falling for 29 years. Two years ago, she walked into a local health club and said she wanted a private trainer. At the time her legs could not lift 30 pounds. Today she can leg press 200 pounds. She became so physically fit that she began running marathons to raise money and awareness for cerebral palsy. She just returned last week from England where she ran in the London Marathon. It took her more than eight-and-a-half hours to complete. They were taking down the course by the time she made it to the finish line. But she made it, nonetheless. With bloody feet and aching joints, she finished the race. Members would you help me recognize a modern-day hero -- Gianna Jessen? At this time, the chamber exploded into applause which lasted 15-20 seconds. Alice Madden, the majority leader and sponsor of the Planned Parenthood resolution, came over to shake Gianna's hand and congratulate her. As the applause died down, Ted raised his hand once again and resumed... Mr. Speaker, members, if you would allow me just a few more moments I would appreciate your time. My name is Ted Harvey, not Paul Harvey, but, please, let me tell you the rest of the story. The cause of Gianna's cerebral palsy is not because of some biological freak of nature, but rather the choice of her mother. You see when her biological mother was 17-years-old and 7-and-a-half months pregnant, she went to a Planned Parenthood clinic to seek a late-term abortion. The abortionist performed a saline abortion on this 17-year-old girl. This procedure requires the injection of a high concentration of saline into the mother's womb, which the fetus is then bathed in and swallows, which results in the fetus being burned to death, inside and out. Within 24 hours the results are normally an induced, still-born abortion. As Gianna can testify, the procedure is not always 100 percent effective. Gianna is an aborted late-term fetus who was born alive. The high concentration of saline in the womb for 24 hours resulted in a lack of oxygen to her brain and is the cause of her cerebral palsy. Members, today, we are going to recognize the 90th anniversary of Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood…" BANG! The gavel came down. The Speaker of the House interrupted him saying, "Representative Harvey, I will allow you to continue your introduction, but not for the purposes of debating a measure now pending before the House." Ted calmly replied, "Mr. Speaker, I understand. I just wanted to put a face to what we are celebrating today." SILENCE. He walked back to his seat in silence. The Democrats wouldn't look at him. They were FUMING. The next day, the paper wrote about how TERRIBLE it was that he had ruined this event. I say GOOD FOR HIM! We need more lawmakers with this man's courage and strength of character. Related: Ted Harvey Gianna Jessen Denver Post: Abortion Jab Earns Rebuke