When I got pregnant at 23 I had an abortion. My boyfriend at the time drove me three hours for the procedure b/c there were no services in my hometown. The procedure was relatively fast and I don’t remember feeling anything.

The nurses liked my fluffy socks and that made me smile. One nurse held my hand and the doctor talked me through it. The stigma surrounding abortions was embedded in my religious upbringing as a child so I went in nervous, but I felt no shame when I left. I wish I would have felt support with my decision, however, I am thankful I had the procedure. I am now in graduate school and married to a wonderful person and I know when the time is right for us, we will have children.