A Pro-Life Thing That Caught My Eye: Abortion in Massachusetts, Prenatal Diagnosis, and Gratitude for Life

Never cease to be grateful for life.

It is not to be taken for granted.

This young woman, who I just happened to see on X, reminds us:

The whole abortion debate has me thinking about my own condition, and what it means for unborn babies with the same condition I have.

I have neurofibromatosis type 1(NF1) a genetic condition that causes tumors to form on the nerves. It can also cause epilepsy, vision loss,… pic.twitter.com/jEtkPi4cyt

— Renatta Oxendine (@Renatta) August 12, 2026

There is not a single one of us human beings who is perfect. I’m not even talking about sin yet. There’s something “wrong” with us all.

My friend, Fordham University professor Fr. Joseph Koterski, S.J., a Jesuit priest, died five years ago this month. (I wrote about him here.) He was unwavering in his commitment to protecting and defending innocent human life, and teaching young people why and how to do so. When Fr. Koterski looked in a mirror, he saw his cleft palate and knew people aborted their babies because of such imperfections. (There’s a surrogacy story in the news right now about something even less than that.)

Give thanks for your life, whatever your imperfections. Disabilities are diverse, of course. They can be known to you alone, they can be inconvenient. They can also be true challenges and debilitating.

I am amazed by some people, when I meet them, and how they navigate their challenges. There was a gal at the Given conference for young Catholic women in D.C. this past June in a wheelchair, a permanent reality for her, who couldn’t have been more consoling to others — because we tend to feel awkward — and seamless in how she got around. Graceful and dedicated to helping others. Just beautiful, inspiring stuff. I know she has days where it’s got to feel impossible. But gratitude for life — and faith in God, doesn’t hurt — brings out amazing things in people.

I saw a statement protesting the new Massachusetts law that said “Life is beautiful!” My reflex might have been to cringe. Obviously, Maura Healey doesn’t think that statement has anything to do with what she signed Monday, despite describing herself as Catholic when it is convenient. But the governor probably wasn’t who the statement’s writers had in mind at that point. It happens to be the truth. And part of the audience is that girl in her wheelchair being seen. She knows her life is beautiful. But it helps to be told.

Your life is beautiful.

Even when you feel like you’ve made a disastrous mess of it. If we are still here living, we can still do something about it. We can still use our time for good.

If God writes straight with crooked lines and all, at least we are reminded to be grateful when another dark news story hits about unconscionable abortion expansion.