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Kansas City area mother shares story of being an abortion survivor

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Kansas City area mother shares story of being an abortion survivor


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Melissa Ohden was born premature. She always knew that. She was adopted and she always knew that too.

She was 14 years old when she learned her birth was the result of a failed saline infusion abortion back in 1977. She weighed less than three pounds.

“There is nothing that prepares you for a moment like that. There’s so many questions of, how does it happen? Why did it happen? Does that mean I’m so unlovable, I’m so unworthy,” said Melissa Ohden.

Ohden is the author of the book “You Carried Me” which outlines her journey of self-discovery and healing.

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She eventually tracked down medical records documenting the failed procedure which led her to connect with her birth mother who also lives in the Kansas City area.

“She lives in Missouri. My birth mom, Ruth, lives in Odessa. I have a half-sister, Jennifer, and her kids that live in Blue Springs,” said Melissa.

Melissa Ohden and her birth mother, Ruth.(KCTV5/Angie Ricono)

Melissa says her birth mother never knew she was born alive and suspects her birth father didn’t know either. She wrote him a letter, but he died shortly after she sent it.

“My birth father passed away not long after I sent him a letter back in 2007, and I don’t know if he knew that I had survived that abortion,” said Melissa.

Abortion Survivors

Melissa now runs the Abortion Survivors Network. She says many people don’t have documentation backing up their birth stories. It’s mostly family secrets that are handed down. Survivors often struggle when learning the truth.

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Not every state keeps track of efficacy- meaning did the procedure work?

Missouri included that information in its last annual abortion report in 2022. The information is in the “abortion complication section.”

It states that 12 abortions “failed, pregnancy undisturbed.”

Post-Abortion Complication Report: Missouri, 2022.
Post-Abortion Complication Report: Missouri, 2022.(KCTV5/Angie Ricono)

Planned Parenthood’s own website reveals the effectiveness of medication abortions by how many weeks a woman is into her pregnancy and the combination of medications prescribed. The effectiveness is anywhere from 87% to 99% effective.

Saline-infused abortions are now quite rare due to side effects and the procedure requires hospitalization. More effective procedures are now available.

Upcoming Amendment 3 vote

Melissa has strong feelings about the upcoming Amendment 3 vote. She will vote “no.”

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Click here to read the exact language.

“I want people to read through this language and be educated about it, to know what the impact of a yes or a no vote on it would be,” said Melissa.

She questions what limits will be in place if Missouri chooses abortion services. She also points next door to Kansas which now provides abortion services for women from numerous states. She does not want Missouri to be a major abortion provider.

She also points to her birth mother, Ruth and what she went through.

“There was a pain in her eyes that I will never, ever forget. And if there’s one thing I could change about my whole story, it would be her pain. I wish I could take that away from her,” said Melissa.

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You Carried Me, by Melissa Ohden.
You Carried Me, by Melissa Ohden.(KCTV5/Angie Ricono)



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On the road again: Arkansas baseball heads to Kansas after brief stop in Fayetteville | Whole Hog Sports

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On the road again: Arkansas baseball heads to Kansas after brief stop in Fayetteville | Whole Hog Sports





On the road again: Arkansas baseball heads to Kansas after brief stop in Fayetteville | Whole Hog Sports







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Police chase ends in injury crash early Wednesday in southeast Kansas

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Police chase ends in injury crash early Wednesday in southeast Kansas


INDEPENDENCE, Kan. (WIBW) – An early-morning police chase on Wednesday came to an end when the vehicle being pursued crashed out in Montgomery County in southeast Kansas, officials said.

The crash was reported at 2:48 a.m. Wednesday at the south junction of US-75 and US-400 highways. The location was about six miles north of Independence.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 2006 Infiniti M35 four-door sedan was headed south on US-75 as it fled from law enforcement officers.

An early-morning police chase on Wednesday came to an end when the vehicle being pursued crashed out in Montgomery County in southeast Kansas, officials said.(MGN)

The Infinit’s driver failed to yield at the stop sign at the US-75 and US-400 highway junction and traveled across US-75 at a high rate of speed.

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The car then left the roadway to the east, where it struck a signpost and a fence before coming to rest off the east side of the roadway.

The Infiniti’s driver, Darrius B.S. Scott, 26, of Independence, was transported to Wilson Medical Center for treatment of suspected minor injuries. The patrol said Scott was wearing his seat belt.

Additional details weren’t immediately available.

Check wibw.com later for more information as it becomes available.

Copyright 2026 WIBW. All rights reserved.

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Kansas City, Kansas, homeowners capitalize on World Cup with streamlined short-term rental licensing process

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Kansas City, Kansas, homeowners capitalize on World Cup with streamlined short-term rental licensing process


KSHB 41 reporter Rachel Henderson covers neighborhoods in Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties. Share your story idea with Rachel.

Kansas City, Kansas, is making it easier for homeowners to get short-term rental permits as the city prepares to host the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches this summer.

The Unified Government loosened its short-term rental requirements ahead of the World Cup and launched a new digital licensing system starting in February.

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KCK homeowners capitalize on World Cup with short-term rental licensing process

With three weeks left before the World Cup begins, about 10 applications remain under review out of more than 70 applications for short-term rentals.

Kalin Callewaert is a real estate agent navigating the process for the first time.

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She received her special use permit from the Unified Government a week ago.

“The short-term rental situation was outside of my comfort zone,” Callewaert said. “This was just a really good opportunity because it’s supposed to bring more volume.”

Now that her property has been approved, Callewaert can begin marketing it — though she has some uncertainty about demand.

Jason Gould/KSHB 41

Kalin Callewaert’s short-term rental along South 18th Street in KCK.

“What I’m hearing in the community is that there’s not as much traffic as what they were initially anticipating,” Callewaert said. “So I don’t know, I just have to hope for the best.”

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She says that could have an impact on short-term rental pricing, meaning people who rent may pay less.

KCK Mayor Christal Watson, who is also new to her role, sat down with me Tuesday afternoon.

The updated requirements were in the works before her term began, but she supports them.

“I’m still floating the newbie mayor right now,” Watson said jokingly.

kck mayor.png

Jason Gould/KSHB 41

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Christal Watson, KCK mayor

She emphasized the changes are about efficiency, not weakening oversight.

“Not so much in laxing it so they’re taking advantage of our policies, but just doing it in a manner that expedites the process,” Watson said.

The hosting period goes from May 4, 2026, until July 31, 2026.

Visit the Unified Government’s website to learn more about the steps to obtain a short-term rental license.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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Rachel Henderson





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