Doomed to be abandoned or aborted, timely intervention saved a child by adoption into loving family
(HLI) The prospects for a Hungarian child born into prostitution is likely to end in abandonment, left to become one of staggeringly high number of Hungarian children in sex trafficking across Europe. Human Life International has flipped that narrative for one baby boy, with what Dr. Imre Téglásy, has labeled the “miracle.” That miracle saved a child who was destined to perish, either through criminal abortion or illicit sexual abuse.
Téglásy is the Director of Human Life International Hungary. An abortion survivor, Téglásy has found many ways to “pay it forward,” dedicating his saved life to the work of saving others.
“Baby Miklós’ biological mother Margit is a sex worker,” explained Téglásy, noting that prostitution is both legal and regulated in Hungary. Margit, 33-years-old, is homeless, and when not servicing clients, she spends her nights in the open air or in random basements. When Margit encountered Sisters Teréz and Klára in a disreputable district of Budapest, she was pregnant, the identity of her child’s father not known. These Hungarian nuns immediately set out to find Margit the help she needed.
[Click here to subscribe to Pregnancy Help News!]
The sisters first connected Margit with a charity service helping women in need. Rather than visit the relief center as recommended, Margit disappeared for several weeks, eventually returning to seek out the nuns’ assistance. After multiple repeats as a “no show” at appointments and subsequent returns to the sisters for help, Margit was introduced to Dániel Fülep, a Roman Catholic theologian, with a heart for the homeless.
Fülep reached out to Téglásy. Margit showed interest in options available to support both her own well-being and that of her child. She was offered everything necessary to leave her transient life as a sex worker and pursue a lifestyle that would benefit both her and her baby. Again, she disappeared.
Margit resurfaced during her third trimester, having contracted syphilis and concerned about how this would affect her baby. With Hungary’s maternity homes full beyond capacity and Margit unable to present a clean bill of health, she realized that she had no home for her child and inquired about adoption. Margit agreed to accompany Human Life International staff to meet with prospective adoptive parents and visit an obstetrician-gynecologist for treatment. Despite her professed willingness to participate, Margit did not show up for either appointment.
A few weeks later, a phone call from the religious sisters brought news that Margit had taken herself to a Budapest maternity clinic, where her baby boy was delivered by caesarean section.
Téglásy hurried to the hospital, along with Ágnes and József, the couple prepared to adopt Margit’s newborn baby. Margit had already designated them, signing a Declaration of Intent, to be the adoptive parents of the unborn baby. An appointment was locked in to finalize the adoption and provide Margit with the appropriate paperwork for herself and her newborn son.
“However,” shared Téglásy, “Margit didn't come to that meeting either. She disappeared without a trace.”
They searched for her for several days, and eventually the nuns found her, just released from police custody.
Finally, Téglásy, Margit, and the adoptive parents were able to visit the guardianship office, where the administrator elicited the birth mother’s full and informed consent. Following the formal adoption procedure, what Téglásy labeled “the most difficult moment for all of us” arrived.
“Margit saw through her difficult life situation,” shared Téglásy, who added the news that the woman had already given birth to five other children that were being raised by her mother. “It was obvious that her motherly instincts made her want to keep the baby in her broken family, but Margit also soberly recognized that she had almost no chance of successfully caring for him. She understood that the best thing she could give to her baby was the good fortune that adoption would bestow on the child for life.”
Ágnes and József tried to give Margit their monetary government adoption grant.
Tearfully, Margit refused. She said, “No, I will not accept this money under any circumstances. Keep this money for Miklós, open a bank account in his name and deposit it for him. When he grows up, it will be given to him with the message, ‘From Mother.’ The mother who is very sorry that she couldn't give him much, much more!”
Téglásy said, “Margit asked us to have her little boy baptized. New parents Ágnes and József agreed to this. As Catholics, this was the greatest gift for Sisters Teréz and Klára, Daniel, and I, that young Miklós received the gift of becoming a child of God in baptism.”
None of those involved have seen Margit since the day she signed the adoption papers and refused the monetary gift.
“We would have liked to have given Margit long-term help to put her life in order, and to help meet the needs of her five other children,” said Téglásy. “Maybe she was dragged down by the eddies of the big city, but I can still see, beyond my own tears, the mother holding her child safely above her head with all her strength, even while she was drowning, in order to hand Miklós over to the loving adoptive couple, provided by divine providence, leaving him a legacy better than any other.”
In his work leading Human Life International Hungary, Téglásy has seen nearly 50,000 babies and their mothers rescued from abortion by the programs he oversees.
Tweet This: Human Life International Hungary has seen nearly 50,000 babies and their mothers rescued from abortion by the program.
Editor's note: This article was published by Human Life International and is reprinted with permission.
