A very new saint in the Catholic Church, Gianna Beretta Molla died in 1962 and was canonized as a saint in 2004. She was an Italian pediatrician who had complications with her fourth pregnancy. She was given three options: an abortion, a hysterectomy or an operation that would likely create further complications. While the Church forbids abortion, the hysterectomy would have been acceptable (although both choices would have resulted in the death of her unborn child). Gianna insisted on preserving the life of her child, knowing full well the chances for her own survival. On Good Friday, 1962, she gave birth to a healthy daughter named Gianna, but subsequently died herself. She is now the patron saint to mothers, physicians, and preborn children. Her feast day is April 28.
