78 Unborn Lives Saved during 40 Days for Life: 'I Don't Want to Hurt My Child'

78 Unborn Lives Saved during 40 Days for Life: 'I Don't Want to Hurt My Child'

Nearly 80 unborn lives have been saved during the first week of 40 Days for Life, the bi-annual campaign that involves volunteers praying, fasting and holding peaceful vigils outside abortion clinics worldwide. 

The spring edition, which began March 2, has seen 78 unborn lives saved, according to a tally on the ministry's website.

Shawn Carney, president of the 40 Days for Life, calls it "the largest spring 40 Days for Life ever."

Among the 78 lives saved were two at an abortion clinic in Chicago when two separate mothers changed their minds.

One of the moms came to the clinic with the baby's father.

"I don't want to hurt my child," the father told a volunteer, Anne Marie.

Anne Marie responded, "God will make you what you need to be to care for this child."

The conversation outside the clinic led the mom and dad to decide not to abort the baby.

"Not only did the couple reconsider," said Joe, the 40 Days for Life campaign leader at the clinic. "They told Anne Marie they weren't going through with the abortion and even [told the woman] they'd join her on the sidewalk praying."

That same day, Anne Marie helped save another unborn life when a pregnant woman arrived at the abortion clinic. The mom refused to talk to Anne Marie while walking into the clinic but engaged her while walking out.

"The baby was only six weeks along, and it was too soon for the clinic to complete the abortion procedure," Joe said. "Anne Marie explained [that] her inability to continue with the abortion was a second chance to walk away from it."

The pregnant woman decided to keep her baby.

The 40 Days for Life ministry posts stories about such encounters on its blog throughout the week.