It's no surprise that President Biden invited Kate Cox to the State of the Union address. No wonder this deeply pro-abortion administration would use one family's horrific pregnancy scenario as a justification for abortion on demand.

But as the mother of a child who received a prenatal diagnosis, I've been in her shoes, experienced the emotional highs that come with that moment, and know that abortion doesn't necessarily have to be the answer.

While the Biden administration clearly supports abortion rights, the decision to invite Cox (who left Texas to abort a baby girl with trisomy 18 after state law denied abortions) is an ideological one. It highlights a troubling tendency to manipulate narratives for political purposes. . President Biden and his leaders believe abortion is a winning issue in this year's election. They will do anything to stay in the spotlight.

While Cox's situation has been framed as a battle for reproductive rights, the reality is that her pregnancy was not a threat to her life. If so, her doctor would have already been authorized by the state to provide her with the necessary treatment. Using her story to advance an abortion agenda risks ignoring the complexity of the issue and the sanctity of all human lives involved.

I understand this complexity firsthand. In March 2008, her husband and I went for a routine checkup at 20 weeks pregnant. Here we learned that our daughter had a rare birth defect, which threw us into a medical journey that required multiple prenatal visits each week. She was diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. This is a disease in which there is a hole in the diaphragm, which causes the stomach, small intestine, spleen, and liver to displace the heart and grow inside the chest cavity, preventing the lungs from growing. Depending on the source, her mortality rate is 30-90%.

It was the most difficult period of our lives.

We've become numb to our pregnancy, moving from appointment to appointment like robots and not having the energy to register for baby items. I don't know where we would have been if we hadn't surrounded ourselves with doctors who guided us positively in life and gave us realistic yet hopeful feedback. I am grateful that they did not give up on our daughter or make it seem like abortion was a “compassionate” option during this delicate time. Their unwavering trust allowed us to plan for our baby's arrival. We were able to utilize all available resources to ensure we were fully prepared, including a tour of the NICU, consultation with our primary surgeon, and various tests.

If the pregnancy does not go as planned, medical professionals very often suggest an abortion immediately. Our life-affirming health care providers have done the hard work of helping you navigate a different path and plan for a difficult and complex process, no matter how your birth progresses. Ta.

The day of her birth, via C-section, there were about four doctors in my room, and another 11 just caring for the baby girl. We chose the hospital closest to the children's hospital downtown so that her husband and family could easily travel to the doctor and our daughter.

We were told that we probably wouldn't be able to hear her cry because her organs were preventing her lungs from growing. Hey, did she prove them wrong! My gynecologist was pleasantly surprised because she started crying as soon as she felt the cold air.

I spent only 11 minutes with her at the first hospital. She couldn't hug her because she was in a transport, but she could touch her. She was then taken to the children's hospital and I remained in the maternity ward.

My daughter had surgery at one week old to move her organs into place and put a patch on her diaphragm. She is currently a sophomore in high school and is on the crew team. Although she suffers from asthma attacks, she never succumbs to her asthma. She was born with a determination that will remain with her throughout her life and will serve her well in the future.

Our experience highlights the importance of recognizing the realities of prenatal diagnosis and the need for compassionate support for families facing difficult decisions through the following resources: PrenatalDiagnosis.org. Families grapple with the uncertainty of these diagnoses every day, and it is vital that they are met with empathy and understanding, rather than being exploited for political gain.

The focus on Cox's story should not obscure the broader context of life-affirming policies and resources available to support pregnant women and their children. As the debate over abortion rights rages on, we must remember that alternatives exist – options that are rooted in compassion, support and respect for life at every stage.

Biden's invitation to Kate Cox should be a catalyst for reflection and action. The noise of the political agenda must not drown out the voices of those who deserve to be heard: the voices of families, mothers, and children. All lives have value, and it's time we defend that truth with integrity and compassion.

Andrea Trudden is Vice President of Communications and Marketing at Heartbeat International.

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of The Daily Caller.