Gianna Jessen

Gianna Jessen is a prominent figure in the pro-life movement, known for her advocacy work and personal story as an abortion survivor. Jessen was born during a failed saline abortion attempt at 30 weeks of pregnancy to a 17-year-old mother. Weighing 2.5 pounds at birth, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a motor condition affecting body movement, which she attributes to the abortion attempt. Medical professionals initially predicted she would not be able to lift her head or achieve significant milestones.

Despite these early prognoses, Jessen began walking with the assistance of leg braces and a walker by age three and later completed a marathon. She has participated in multiple marathons, sung with an Italian symphony, and taken up rock climbing. Her story gained national attention after her adoptive mother revealed the circumstances of her birth, leading author Jessica Shaver to publish the biography "Gianna: Aborted…and Lived to Tell About It."

Jessen has established herself as an international pro-life speaker, singer, and writer, sharing her experience in venues such as the U.S. Congress and British Parliament. She has testified before Congress on several occasions and was present when the Born Alive Infants Protection Act was signed into law. Jessen also testified at a Congressional hearing regarding fetal tissue donation practices. She delivered a speech at Queen's Hall, Parliament House, Victoria, Australia, during a debate on abortion legislation.

Her life inspired the film "October Baby," in which she contributed a song to the soundtrack. The filmmakers based the story on her testimony as an abortion survivor, introducing her experience to a broader audience. Jessen continues to campaign against late-term abortion exceptions for fetal disability, drawing on her own life as an example. She emphasizes the human aspect of abortion, stating, "It's more comfortable for people to think of abortion as a political decision, or a right. But I am not a right. I am a human being."

Jessen's work in pro-life advocacy, public speaking, and disability rights has made her a recognized voice in debates on abortion, disability, and human rights.