Dr. Ben Carson Praises Vitae's 'Compassionate' Efforts

April 17, 2014 - 1:28 PDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY

For further information contact: Martha Schieber, Communications Director
(800)393-5791 Ext. 206
marthas@vitaefoundation.org

Jefferson City, MO (April 17, 2014) - Over 1,400 people gathered at Vitae Foundation events on Tuesday where Dr. Ben Carson said if you give someone quality and longevity, you've given them something quite extraordinary. As a retired pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Carson has given thousands of children a second chance at life, when death seemed imminent. Vitae's mission is much the same, using targeted messages to pregnant women so they can ultimately give quality and longevity--life--to the children they are carrying.

"When I think about Vitae, the word that comes to mind is compassionate. These young women, who've made the mistake of becoming pregnant, are being told to get an abortion," Dr. Carson stated. "Because of this organization, they are being told about life and shown compassion. They are provided support if they have the baby. It's what Jesus would do."

The professor emeritus of Johns Hopkins University currently travels around the country to talk about values that were important to the Founding Fathers. During that period of America's history, not only were life and liberty promoted but people also cared about one another. As a society, Dr. Carson fears that we're becoming less caring about each other.

Part of that trend is people seeing things they believe are not right, yet remaining quiet. "Keeping our mouths shut is a destructive tendency. Remember Nazi Germany? They kept their mouths shut and look what happened," Dr. Carson noted. "As a society, we need to develop thicker hides. We need to start expressing what we really mean, with honest conversation."

An example he gave was something he explained on Fox News to Bill O'Reilly on Monday night. He told O'Reilly if you say you are against abortion, others call you anti-woman. The same analogies are used to call people racist and homophobes.

"So many people think that abortion is about women's rights. No, it's about killing a baby," Dr. Carson explained. "God placed the baby in a safe place, the mother's womb. That (abortion) makes no sense whatsoever."

The retired physician recounted several high-profile operations in which he saved the lives of twins. One operation took place in utero, where he placed a shunt into one of the baby's brains who suffered from hydrocephalous (water on the brain). If they didn't do the surgery, it would have put the other baby in harms way.

"People said 'Don't do it!' It turned out both thrived and were given weeks of further gestation in the womb. And the bonus, both survived and thrive today!" the former Pediatric Neurosurgeon exclaimed.

Dr. Carson shared that his path to becoming a doctor was not an easy one. As a child, when his parents divorced, poverty became their way of life. His mother would go to a farmer and offer to pick four bushels of whatever crop they had, be it corn, beans or apples. Then she'd ask that in exchange for picking four bushels, could she have one for her family. She would then can whatever she brought back.

"My mother never considered herself a victim. She understood the value of education and made my brother and I read two books a week from the library. Then we'd have to write a book report--not that she could read them," Dr. Carson noted with a grin. "My mother always believed in me, even when I struggled in school."

It was reading those library books that turned the tide and helped little Ben Carson become an "A" student. That is probably why he is so passionate about people taking the time to educate themselves on the issues that face us today.

"Real success is using the talent that God has given you to elevate others," the world-class doctor noted.

Don and Ruth Ann Schnieders, hosting their 22nd Vitae event in Jefferson City, held the first event in their back yard. A special video presentation featured Vitae's President of 22 years, Carl Landwehr, and incoming President, Pat Castle, Ph.D.

Landwehr told the luncheon crowd that early on he'd wake up in the middle of the night and worry, "Why me, Lord?" Now, while the job continues to be gut wrenching, he prays, "Thank you, Lord!" He says he has a new calling, to visit places Vitae hasn't gone before and open up new markets. “You can retire from a job, but you don't leave a calling," Landwehr stated.

Most Rev. John Gaydos, Bishop of the Jefferson City Diocese, truly surprised Landwehr at the dinner event when he presented a Papal Blessing to Vitae's outgoing president. The award recognized Landwehr's lifetime of work saving the unborn and educating the culture about the sanctity of human life.

Vitae Vice President Stacey Kromer shared with the 400 at lunch and the 1,000 at dinner that so far in 2014, Vitae has helped save 1,500 babies. The Meet Life campaign, centered in Missouri, has 22 Pregnancy Help Centers on board and more are coming. She also shared that three new markets are being considered for 2014, including Phoenix, Houston and Jacksonville, Fla.

As Vitae changes its leadership this June, one thing will remain the same: The mission to save mothers and babies from abortion while offering compassion and resources will always be what drives this ship. In the words of Dr. Carson, "We're all in the same boat. If part sinks, all sink. We have to elevate one another."

Vitae Foundation is a national non-profit organization which uses mass media campaigns to reach women facing unplanned pregnancies. Vitae's campaigns in the Central Missouri media market have included The Add Sheet (with distribution on the MU campus), the Missouri Tiger Network (television commercials and branding radio ads), St. Louis Cardinals Radio Network, and Internet ads reaching women and directing them to Vitae's Your Options website on Google, Bing and Yahoo, and Internet marketing strategies and billboards directing women to the Pregnancy Help Center of Central Mo. and billboards promoting YourOptions.com.

To schedule any interviews with Carl Landwehr please contact Martha Schieber at 573-634-4316 ext. 206.

Contact

Vitae Foundation
http://www.vitaefoundation.org
MO, 65101 US
Martha Schieber - Communications Director, 800-393-5791

Keywords

Dr. Ben Carson, pro-life, abortion, Vitae Foundation, Papal blessing

Category

OTHER

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