Doctor shares his story: ‘Two Patients: My Conversion from Abortion to Life-Affirming Medicine’
By Dennis Kellogg
Director of Communications
Nebraska Right to Life’s first-ever Walk for Life Gala Jan. 27 attracted 500 people to the Lincoln event.
The evening included a dinner, music, prayer, a panel discussion, awards presentations and a keynote address from a national pro-life doctor, author and speaker. The Friday night Gala preceded a pro-life Mass and the annual Walk for Life Saturday morning, Jan. 28, at the State Capitol.
Dr. John Bruchalski is the founder of Tepeyac OB/GYN, a pro-life, faith-based practice in Fairfax, Va. for more than 25 years. Bruchalski addressed the attendees of the Gala, and also spoke to those who participated in the Walk for Life.
Bruchalski grew up in a strong Catholic family, but drifted away from his faith in college and medical school. As an OB/GYN in the first two years of his residency, he performed abortions. He told the story of a baby who was born alive despite his attempt to perform an abortion. He then had to call in a neonatal specialist.
“And lo and behold, in walks a faith-filled, Catholic, professor, neonatal intensive care specialist, Dr. Debbie Plumb. She quickly assessed the situation and said, ‘Bruchalski, stop treating my patients as tumors.’
“She witnessed to me. She said, ‘John, you’re really good at this, but your patient and your second patient, your two patients deserve better.’”
Dr. Plumb encouraged him to go on a pilgrimage to Yugoslavia where she had just been. Not knowing of that conversation, Bruchalski’s mother, shortly afterward, asked him to go there with her. He did, and he said that’s where “the Lord and our Mother came to me in prayer.” He said “the good Lord absolutely brought me home.”
In an interview with the Register, Dr. Bruchalski said even in today’s polarizing political situation, those on both sides of the abortion debate need to talk with each other in search of “our common humanity.”
“Even though I want to believe that some laws can change hearts, and I believe many children are saved, I think it’s more a matter of heart to heart, ‘Cor ad Cor’ as (St. Francis) de Sales would say,” Bruhalski said. “It’s about looking people in the eye and saying, ‘I will walk you through this… ‘There’s a better way. We can show you. And that’s what we are called to be as Catholic Christians, right? We are called to be witnesses.”
Dr. Bruhalski titled his recently-released memoir, “Two Patients: My Conversion from Abortion to Life-Affirming Medicine.” He said it’s important to never forget that a health professional’s focus needs to be on both the mother and her unborn baby.
“(With) great medicine today, we never pit mom against baby. You don’t need abortion to save the life of the mother,” Bruchalski said. “You always hate the disease but you love the patient. You don’t get rid of diseases by getting rid of patients with those diseases.”
In addition to starting Tepeyac OB/GYN in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, Dr. Bruchalski is the president and founder of Divine Mercy Care, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing pro-life medicine and “transforming hearts through healthcare.” One of Divine Mercy Care’s goals is “helping to grow the next generation of pro-life doctors and other medical professionals.”
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly, State Auditor and former Lieutenant Governor Mike Foley, and Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers were joined by a number of state senators and other dignitaries at the Gala.
Father Timothy Danek, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Auburn, served as the master of ceremonies for the event. The evening included a panel discussion on pro-life efforts featuring Sandy Danek of Nebraska Right to Life, Laura Buddenberg of Essential Pregnancy Services and Lisa McInerney of Sidewalk Advocates for Life.
Nebraska Right to Life also presented two awards during the evening. The Julie Schmit-Albin Leadership Award, named for the longtime leader of Nebraska Right to Life who passed away in 2020, was presented to Mike Foley for his years of advocacy for pro-life causes. The Light of Life Award was given to Connie and Larry Consbruck of Hastings for their years of service to South Central Nebraska Right to Life efforts.
Sandy Danek, executive director of Nebraska Right to Life, said the two pro-life events should encourage everyone for the challenges that remain ahead.
“Our nation has become stronger in its ability to protect the unborn because of the Dobbs v. Jackson decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. It is a victory for the many who have fought, prayed, sacrificed, marched and voted for almost 50 years,” Danek said. “It’s now our mission to continue this battle here in Nebraska. The outpouring of support that came this past weekend from the first-ever Nebraska Walk for Life Gala and Walk gives us the strength for a new battle cry, one that leads us to support bills like the Nebraska Heartbeat Act LB626.”
The Nebraska Heartbeat Act is a bill before the Nebraska Legislature that would require a physician to perform an ultrasound on a pregnant mother to listen for a fetal heartbeat. If the baby’s heartbeat is detected, performing an abortion would be unlawful, except in cases of rape or incest, or to save the life of the mother. State Senator Joni Albrecht introduced the bill and was one of the state senators in attendance at the Gala.
Nebraska Right to Life was founded just a few months after the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. It is the longest-running statewide pro-life organization in Nebraska.
