ODON — God has a plan for every conception.

That was the theme of speaker Nina Fuller’s speech at Thursday night’s Right To Life banquet. Fuller is the founder of the ministries Living Proof Testimonies and SMILE on Down syndrome.

She said God had a plan for all of her five children, including her two youngest daughters, Tess and Hope.

Nina and her husband Andy were stunned when they received the prenatal diagnosis 13 years ago that their fourth child, Tess, had Down syndrome and two heart defects. They spoke to their pastor, who told them “God has confidence in you.”

Although 80 to 90 percent of children diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted, the Fullers stuck with their values. They would not abort Tess, even when Nina’s heart and other organs began to fail. At one point, Nina was hospitalized and told she needed an abortion immediately, or she would die.

Nina said she and her husband “clung to God’s word” during that time and prayed for strength to make the right decisions. At one point, their 14-year-old son said, “I know why God is giving us this pregnancy. It’s because He knows we won’t abort.”

After Tess was born, doctors told Nina not to have any more children. But raising Tess convinced the couple they wanted one more child. So they adopted Hope, whose unmarried parents almost went for an abortion when they found out she had Down syndrome.

“We get the privilege every day of chasing after Hope,” said Nina. “I thank God for preserving my life so I could stand here and share my story.”

Before Fuller spoke, Louis Kavanaugh Jr. introduced the adoptive child and family of the year, Washington residents Chris and Karen Brown, and their daughter, Molly. The Browns recounted how they went to China to adopt their daughter. Almost immediately, Molly began calling Chris “baba,” which is Chinese for “daddy.”

“She’s a wonderful blessing,” said Karen. “I don’t know what we did before we had her.”

The Browns said, about 30 percent of baby girls born in China go to an orphanage. Most of the rest are killed. The country also mandates abortions and only allows each family to have one child.

Receiving the Pro-Life Award for the year were Jim and Catherine Freeland of Petersburg. They actively give and volunteer with Right To Life.

Lastly, Beth Franklin presented a Community Service Award to Pregnancy Care Center founder Donna Gentry for her years of hard work for the pro-life cause.