Over 350 people attended the annual Rally for Life in Montpelier, to commemorate the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Decision. Melissa Ohden, the survivor of a failed saline infusion abortion in 1977, was the featured speaker.
Despite the initial concerns regarding Melissa’s future after surviving the attempt to end her life, and being born alive at approximately seven months gestation, she has not only survived but thrived. With a Master’s Degree in Social Work, she has worked in the fields of substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence/sexual assault counseling, and child welfare.
Melissa was formerly a College Outreach Speaker with Feminists for Life, traveling to college campuses to share her story while advocating for resources and supports for pregnant and parenting college students and advocating for the rights of the unborn. She now works with individuals and organizations across the U.S., Canada, and Australia.
The Rally for Life is held each year to commemorate the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion throughout pregnancy and overturned the laws protecting unborn babies in every state. January 22, 2013 marked the 40th anniversary of the infamous decision.
