Jessica Shaver

This was one of the better Christian Biographies I've read recently. Gianna's mother Tina had a "saline" abortion at the age of 17 having been persuaded by various professionals that this was the only way forward for her in her situation and at her age. However, although the procedure took place Gianna was born alive but with cerebral palsy; A congenital disorder of movement, muscle tone, or posture (google.) Tina raised her for a few years but custody was eventually given to the state and show more Gianna was adopted by Diana a Christian with a heart for outcasts (those that others had rejected.)

(I loved the fact that Diana had also taken in a 96 year old homeless man that she had found wandering the streets searching trash cans for food. She had seen him a few times before asking if he wanted to come and live with their family. He said "yes" so they took him home. He became "grandpa." Christian compassion in action!)

Gianna also became a Christian at a young age and began to use her love of singing to share her personal story and testimony. She was regularly in the media spotlight having also become involved in pro-life and anti-abortion rallies/events. She was the subject of a lot of hostility due to her involvement in these and because she was proof that abortion kills real people and not fetuses as many would suggest.

I was sad that Gianna decided not to meet her birth mother who tries to make contact in the book although I liked that she offered forgiveness very early on. I was impressed with how she used her media platform to share about Jesus primarily, always making the point that her priority was her faith and everything else was secondary. Indeed there is a clear Gospel presentation in the book. Gianna was able to use her traumatic childhood experiences to look beyond her disability and help others and to point them to the only source of true hope and forgiveness; Jesus.

The book is basically clean; free of bad language (apart from one use of God's name in vain at the beginning of the book,) violence and a sexual assault are mentioned but no details are given, the abortion procedure is described and some readers may struggle with this.

I would recommend this book for anyone dealing with issues relating to abortion.... show less

I read this book shortly after it was released. A new edition of this fantastic story was published in 2011 by Focus on the Family. The first edition was written when Gianna was only 17 years old.

This biography tells the story of a strong baby girl who survived a saline abortion at 29 weeks gestation, was whisked to a hospital as a hopeless ward of the state, then adopted by a loving family.

Although the abortion process caused Gianna to have cerebral palsy, she remained a fighter. She show more wrestled with thoughts about her birth mother: why did she choose to abort her and give her away to be adopted? Through God’s grace, she forgave her birth mother, and over time, Gianna developed her testimony to encourage others to reject abortion and choose life.

Today, Gianna Jessen continues to fight for the lives of the unborn and travels the world to tell her story. See giannajessen.com for more information.

https://lorindasponderings.com/2019/01/23/pro-life-resources/ show less

Amazing! This isn't my usual type of reading material, but the title caught my attention. This true story has an amazing beginning just like Gianna's life has had. Her young mother, unsure and afraid in the situation she is in as an expectant mother, goes to an abortion clinic. The procedure doesn't work and thanks to the baby being almost term, the mother gives birth to a very much live baby girl. It is a wonder that Gianna survived the abortion procedure, and didn't have more health show more problems than she did. Her story is one of strength in the face of adversity and faith. Her courage is to be admired and her ability to face things head-on is inspiring. show less

I learned a lot from this biography. I did not know a baby could survive an abortion. I had an abortion in 1983 and that was probably the point in my life that made me come unglued. After my marriage and having other children, I realized what a horrible thing I did in killing my own child. That sent me in a downward spiral. I never turned to drugs but I certainly was not a nice person because I was hiding such a terrible secret inside me. To the world, I was a kind, good person but inside I show more knew that I was the worst kind of sinner. That's probably the reason that I turned to adultery. After all, I was a murderer so what's a little adultery?
The only reason I an still alive is because of the grace of God. I confessed my sins (all of them) to the Lord and he has forgiven me! Hallelujah! This is also a book of healing. Gianna forgave her mother but I hope and pray that she will eventually meet her face to face and tell her she forgives her.
I feel that not only the murdered babies are the victims in abortions but also the woman who had the abortion. Maybe she was misinformed, maybe she had no hope. Only God and people sharing his love and forgiveness with them can help them.
Please don't have an abortion! You will regret it for the rest of your life! show less