Miriam "Penny" Hopper, the woman whose abortion survival story was shared by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during the recent Fox News Republican presidential debate, has a message for those who doubt her story.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Hopper stated, "I did exist." Her story, which DeSantis recounted to an audience of 12.8 million, has faced criticism and accusations of falsehood on social media.
Steve Schmidt, a former GOP consultant and co-founder of The Lincoln Project, called DeSantis's story "ludicrous" and called for the media to investigate it. Liberal journalist Jill Filipovic also expressed skepticism, describing the story as "bizarre and impossible."
In response to these doubts, Hopper asserted, "My answer to that would be the fact that I did exist. I existed at 23 weeks. There are thousands of abortion survivors around the world who have stories to tell, who have miraculous stories to tell."
Hopper's story was initially shared in a pro-life ad by Faces of Choice, which premiered at the 2020 March for Life in Washington, D.C. Lyric Gillett, the founder and executive director of Faces of Choice, connected with Hopper through Melissa Ohden, the founder and CEO of the Abortion Survivors Network.
According to Hopper, she was born after a failed abortion attempt in 1955. Her mother experienced complications at 23 weeks of pregnancy, leading the doctor to suggest terminating the pregnancy. Hopper's father took her mother to the doctor, who induced an abortion by administering a shot.
However, Hopper survived and was born weighing just 1 pound and 11 ounces. In the Faces of Choice video, Hopper described being placed in a bedpan on the back porch of the clinic before her grandmother and aunt arrived and contacted the police. She was then transported to a hospital in Lakeland, Florida.
While the details of Hopper's account have not been fully verified, she expressed her excitement, shock, and humility upon learning that DeSantis had shared her story on a national platform. Hopper emphasized that she is not the only one with a story to tell, stating, "You know that you've known your story all your life, but you're not the only one out there to tell a story, that's got stories to tell. I was very humbled by it."
The number of abortion survivors in the United States is difficult to determine. The Abortion Survivors Network reports that only 10 U.S. states require reporting on babies born alive after attempted abortions, and these states have varying standards for what constitutes being "born alive." The network claims to have contacted nearly 650 abortion survivors since 2019.
Melissa Ohden, the founder and CEO of the Abortion Survivors Network, emphasized the lack of public awareness regarding the fact that people can survive abortions. In an effort to challenge misconceptions and amplify personal stories, Ohden's organization will launch a campaign next month declaring September as "Babies Survive Abortions Awareness Month." Ohden explained that an abortion survivor is a baby who survives an attempted abortion in the womb, and the campaign aims to support mothers who have experienced failed abortions or are considering them.
Hopper's story will be featured in this campaign, as she hopes to provide hope to pregnant women who may fear that their pregnancy will negatively impact their lives. She highlighted organizations like the Abortion Survivors Network that offer support and healing to women in such situations.
Hopper shared her own experience of initially being unwanted by her father, but eventually gaining his love and acceptance. She emphasized the power of forgiveness and the close-knit nature of her family.
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