Watson Coleman: “I do not know if there is an issue we face in this Senate that is as charged and certain to elicit a whole range of…”

“I do not know if there is an issue we face in this Senate that is as charged and certain to elicit a whole range of emotional responses as the issue of abortion. A lot of us bring very passionate perspectives to this. My wife Laurie and I are parents of two children who were destined to die. Our first son, Adam, was born with a genetic condition that we found out about at the time of birth, at delivery. He lived for a very short time, not more than a couple of months. As a result of that, I can say that my sense about the value of life was forged in steel, that each life is precious, that each life has value. That is the perspective I bring. Ten years ago, our fourth child, our last daughter, Grace--in between we have a son Jacob, who is going to be 17 tomorrow, Thursday, and a daughter Sarah, who is 13, but our daughter Grace was born with the same condition. We knew about a week before that she was going to have this genetic condition which is very rare. My wife gave birth. We cared for Grace for a couple of months. We brought her home from the hospital very quickly. We knew she was destined to die. We made that choice for Grace to be part of our life, because we understand the incredible value that every life gives, that every life has, that every life is a gift from God. I recognize that my friends across the aisle have heartfelt and passionate beliefs on the other side of the abortion issue. I understand that. We disagree.”