Adopted 8-Year-Old Speaks at Day of Mourning: ‘I Was Unplanned, but Not Unwanted’
Blythe Mullen, 8, reaches for a cue card from her mother, Jessica Mullen. She spoke at the Day of Mourning in Albany, New York, on Feb. 23 about her adoption story and her dream of seeing abortion end.
“What if there was no me?” Blythe asked. People sniffled, sobbed and applauded as Blythe Mullen, age 8, shared her story of adoption in Albany, New York, at the Day of Mourning on Feb. 23.
“My eyes would have never had the chance to see the word all around me — especially horses. Those are my favorite.” The audience laughed. “My ears would have never had the chance to hear the words, ‘I love you.’ And most of all, I would have never known what it was like to be part of a family.”
Not Unwanted
“You see, when God was knitting me together in my mother’s womb, He knew exactly what He was doing. He does not make mistakes,” Blythe said. “I’m fortunate because my birth mom was brave and chose life for me. I was unplanned, but not unwanted.”
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Thousands gathered or streamed the Day of Mourning live. The event, created in response to the outcry over the New York abortion law, gave people an opportunity to mourn and repent for abortion in America.
“Over 61 million other little boys and girls just like me were not given that chance,” Blythe said. “How many more? How many more will die this way?
Option Adoption
Blythe’s adopted parents started a ministry called Option Adoption shortly after adopting Blythe. They told The Stream how Blythe’s adoption spurred them to action.
“When we realized how brave her birth mother was, we were like, wow, how many other women see adoption as a true choice?” Jessica Mullen said. After some research, they realized that very few pregnant women choose adoption over abortion.
Jessica Mullen shared that their family travels to abortion clinics together and shares the message of the gospel and the options of parenting or placing for adoption. They walk alongside moms who choose life for their babies and help them through the process. Blythe and her brother come along and help share the message of life.
“Blythe has a real passion for this topic,” Mullen said. “She understands her testimony and how special it is that her birth mother chose life for her.
We Are Wanted
Blythe was a little hesitant to speak to me. Mullen told me she’s not usually shy, and encouraged her to share. Soon she answered a question for me. She did so with conviction, as if speaking a deeply-held truth.
“How do you know that you were wanted?” I asked. It’s a probing question, but Blythe proved ready to answer.
“Because God — He created us and He wants us to be in a family.” Blythe said. “We are wanted.”
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