Abby Rose is an average young adult raised in a traditional family. She has two loving parents, went to school, grew up with another sibling, and is a few weeks shy of graduating from cosmetology school.  

She’s brewing with excitement to graduate, but a chance meeting with one of our Students for Life of America (SFLA) staff members raised an enthusiasm that’s existed her entire life: 

Propelling the pro-life movement.  

Yes, she lives a “normal” life. Still, her story started as one of the first safe-haven babies to be adopted in Illinois under the state’s safe-haven law, which says that “Every hospital must accept and provide all necessary emergency care to a relinquished infant…” 

Not only has she shared her story with SFLA, but her own story saved the life of her high school friend’s daughter, who would have been aborted if she hadn’t impressed on her the potential and miracle of life.  

Rose was born in January 2005, but that’s all she knows.  

“I don’t even know where I was born,” Rose explained. “I wasn’t born in a hospital, but I was dropped off at St. John’s Hospital when I was maybe a day old. I was covered in dried blood and wrapped in a towel when a woman dropped me off.”  

Though her adoptive parents were unable to conceive, they were patiently waiting on a list through an adoption agency to take home their first child. As a crazy coincidence, the adoption agency called regarding Rose on January 18, 2005 – the night before my mother’s birthday.  

“So many people wanted me,” said Rose. “A line that abortion supporters often use is that the baby would be better off aborted than living, but that’s not the case. So many people wanted me, and that’s the same situation for many babies who need a loving, adoptive family.” 

According to American Adoptions, there are roughly two million couples waiting to adopt a baby. That’s 36 couples waiting for every single child placed for adoption. Abortion isn’t a necessity when so many couples are waiting to love a child. Rose’s story has given her the strength and determination to advocate for life more nationally and in her community. Thanks to Rose, a baby was saved from abortion because the child’s mother chose life.  

“So many people can’t have their own children, so giving someone an opportunity to have a baby and give them a great life is the best possible option,” Rose continued by telling a personal story. “I have a friend who got pregnant in high school and wasn’t planning to. When she told me she was going to get an abortion, one thing I told her changed her mind:  

‘I could’ve been aborted. We could’ve never met.’  

Fast forward nine months later, and she and her baby are happy and healthy. My story has brought people help and allowed a baby to have an amazing life.” 

Both Rose and her brother have been loved by their adoptive parents their entire lives, but Rose always credits her birth mother for choosing life for her.  

“I’ve always been so thankful to my birth parents even though I don’t know them and know nothing about them,” expressed Rose. “I’m so thankful they gave my parents the opportunity to be parents.” 

As Rose prepares to graduate, she’s also preparing to use her story to inspire others to choose and protect life, as well as give the adoption perspective to abortion zealots’ narrative.