An Abortion Survivor

The first thing I noticed about October Baby was the names of the authors: Theresa Preston and Eric Wilson. I wondered if this was the same Eric Wilson who wrote children's mystery stories when I was a teenager but am inclined to think it's a different author who just happens to have the same name.

 

Regardless, October Baby had me intrigued from the first few words as Nurse Rutledge led me into what I soon realized was an abortion clinic. As she reached to answer the phone, I was made aware of the bomb threat she just received, thereby shutting down the clinic for the rest of the day.

 

The following day, something unusual happened as a young mother - who had undergone an abortion procedure the previous day - came into the clinic holding her abdomen before collapsing onto the floor. 

 

Making a decision she knew would change her life, Nurse Rutledge knew in her heart the only thing she could do was accompany the unwed teen to the hospital where she helped bring an October baby into the world.

 

The story picks up 12 years later. We are introduced to Hannah as she is blowing out candles on her twelfth birthday while Jason, her best friend, looks on.

 

Without going into all of the details, we learn Hannah is adopted - that she was the October baby Nurse Rutledge helped deliver.

 

Her adoptive parents love Hannah unconditionally but, because of the challenges they faced when she was a baby - so many surgeries she needed just to live some semblance of a normal life - they are overprotective, afraid of allowing her to make the simplest decisions sometimes.

 

Years later, through an unexpected set of circumstances, Hannah learns she is adopted. Having wondered why she was different than the other people in her family, she begins to wonder about the woman who gave birth to her so many years ago. With Jason's help, she sets about making plans to meet her.

 

October Baby explores the depth of emotions adoptive parents of a closed adoption face, especially as the children they've adopted into their hearts approach the age of majority and begin to ask questions about their birth parents. They fear the children they have raised and nurtured will feel less connected to them, especially if a relationship is established with the birth parents.

 

It explores, to some degree, the questions birth parents - especially mothers - face as they wonder about the child they gave up so long ago. We see how those feelings are shoved on the back burner but how they never really go away.

 

As for the adoptive child, we certainly learn the ramifications it has on them - especially when there are secrets involved - especially when they learn their birth mother tried to abort them. It feels like a dagger has been plunged into their souls.

 

October Baby is a heart-wrenching story yet it carries veins of hope and miracles along the way, forgiveness being among them. Pick up your copy today by visiting October Baby's page on Amazon.