The Privilege of Pam Tebow’s Choice

We’ve all been reading and writing plenty about the FoF Super Bowl ad featuring Tim and Pam Tebow.  While there are many criticisms of CBS and how they are airing a probably anti-choice type of ad, while refusing to air the United Church of Christ ad and Mancrunch gay dating site ad, there are some issues that I haven’t seen enter the discussion. 

Pam Tebow became pregnant with her fifth child while on a missionary trip in the Philippines.  She became infected with a pathogenic amoeba which put her in a coma and gave her dysentery.  The drugs which were used to rouse her and treat the life threatening diarrhea caused a massive placental abruption.  She chose to continue the pregnancy, despite the risk to her life and the high chance that her baby would be stillborn.  Fortunately, she and the baby both survived. 

This is one of those classic stories about how miracles can happen and how you should never give up hope, but there is something missing.  What if things hadn’t turned out so well?  What if she had died and left 4 or 5 children with a single father?  Its probably safe to assume that Mr. and Mrs. Tebow discussed how they would manage in such a situation.  The family already got by on Mr. Tebow’s income, with Mrs. Tebow as a stay-at-home mom who home-schooled the kids.  Losing her would have been wrenching and difficult, but they probably could have gotten by, and understood that she gave her life to try to save that of her unborn child. 

However, what if this had been another family?  What if the husband and children relied on the second income of their mother to make ends meet?  What if the father was out of the picture, and the mother was the only guardian of the four kids?  What if the pain of losing their mother was so difficult, the family was torn apart?  The Tebow’s were privileged in that they had the financial and emotional stability to take that risk, but can they really blame anyone who didn’t?  Can Focus on the Family not sympathize with the situation, and understand that some people decide they’d rather be positive their kids could be cared for? 

I’m not saying that a woman should only be thinking of other kids in her decision.  Regardless of why she chooses abortion, a woman should be supported in her decision.  But, I feel like the commercial is probably going to be along the lines of "Look, miracles can happen, so choose life." with a total disregard for what the situation is for other people.  And frankly, that’s just irresponsible.