Dear Prolife Friend,

It’s called a “double-dip.”

Back in the year 2000, RU-486 was legalized in the United States. RU-486 is a non-surgical abortion procedure that combines two different drugs to complete the abortion. Separately, these drugs can be used effectively for non-abortion-related ailments. Put them together, and they’re deadly.

Once combined, the drugs first cause the nutrient lining of the uterus to disintegrate. Then the second half of the formula kicks in causing uterine contractions to expel a dead child. A woman will take the two drugs, make multiple visits to the abortion clinic, and then have a face-to-face encounter with her dead baby. That is if the RU-486 works.

And that’s where the “double-dip” comes in.

First, the abortion clinic sells the woman the RU-486 abortion. However, the procedure often fails — at least 7.9% of the time according to the RU-486 label — putting the woman through what has been called a “living hell.” After days of uncontrolled bleeding, pain and misery, she has to go back and pay yet another fee, this time for a surgical abortion.

“Double-dip!”

We got a rare glimpse into the horrors of an RU-486 abortion when a young woman decided to “tweet” her experience live over the Internet. This woman gave a blow-by-blow report, on the Internet, as she proceeded with an RU-486 abortion.

She anticipated a “four-hour bleed-out.” Instead, the entire process stretched out into a two-week ordeal that included most, if not all, of the side effects; severe uterine cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, abdominal and back pain. Fortunately, she didn’t die, which also occurs.

Because of immense pressure applied by the Clinton/Gore White House, the Food & Drug Administration put RU-486 on a fast track to legalization. Even now, ten years later, there are no conclusive studies on the long-term side effects of this procedure.

Dr. Etienne-Emile Baulieu, who invented RU-486, said, “It’s insulting to women to say that abortion now will be as easy as taking aspirin. It is always difficult, psychologically and physically, sometimes tragic.”

Edouard Sakiz, the former chairman of Roussel-Uclaf, the company that developed RU-486, was even stronger in his description: “It’s an appalling, psychological ordeal.”

Abby Johnson, former director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas, will tell you the abortion industry is a profit-driven business. Abby walked off the job after she experienced a change of heart right in the middle of an abortion.

Abby Johnson is now traveling the country sharing her story. She will be the keynote speaker at our annual Legislative Day, to be held Wednesday, April 28 at the Lansing Center.

We are trying to counteract the efforts of an industry that double-dips its customers for a profit. It is our responsibility to reach these women first. It’s imperative that we be there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We need to . . .

• Blog.
• Tweet.
• Email.
• Facebook.
• Advertise.
• Maintain websites.
• Utilize Google AdWords.
• Promote toll-free crisis phone numbers.
• We need to go into the schools.
• We need to work with pastors of all denominations.
• We need to help strengthen crisis intervention efforts in every Michigan community.
• We need to grow our grassroots army so that they will invade every nook and cranny of this state with the long, loving arms of the prolife movement.

But we can’t do it without the resources! I urge you to consider a gift today of $10, $15, $25, $50 or more or even more to help us offer life-affirming alternatives to abortion 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

With Deepest Appreciation, Barbara Listing Right to Life of Michigan President