National Abortion Federation Blog: Saporta Reporter

Over one-third of women of reproductive age have an abortion by the age of 45. However, women who have chosen abortion are often absent from the public debate. In order to break the silence surrounding abortion, we will be featuring real stories from real women each Wednesday on our blog. If you would like to share your story with us or have it published on our blog, go to http://www.prochoice.org/pregnant/hotline/share.html.

I am a full-time student carrying a 3.7 GPA, and the proud mother to a two-year-old, mildly autistic, special needs child with a severe seizure disorder. Having another child at this hectic and sometimes frightening stage in my life would do both children an injustice. I can’t tell the relief I felt following my abortion, when all was said and done and I was still healthy, and my beautiful son still happy. The staff at the clinic was respectful and amazingly helpful, and at no point did I feel pressured to do something that I didn’t want to do.

--submitted by Sandra* through a member clinic


My daughter suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a violent rape. She will never be the same innocent girl she was. Her decision to have an abortion has not been an easy one. As my support has always been there, no one understands how hard, how much it hurts, or the confusion, unless you have walked in those shoes. The protesters that walk outside the building, with their shouts and their signs, have no clue about my daughter’s story. The clinic helped my daughter “walk where no woman wants to walk.” It was not planned and it was not her fault. Thank you to the Hotline for helping my daughter.

--submitted by Loretta,* on behalf of her daughter Alexandra,* through a member clinic

*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy

Labels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women