I exist because my mother was able to access abortion. If she had not had an abortion, she would not have had me later in her life. Because she made her choice, she had me when she was ready and had the support she needed to raise me.

I got my abortion during the Covid-19 Pandemic. I was finishing my final semester remotely and knew that my best option was an abortion. The person who got me pregnant was manipulating me constantly and I knew that I could not have a baby with this person.

I would like to share my story with you, not because this bill will directly impact me, but because what happened to me can happen to anyone. Fetal anomalies do not discriminate and they can occur in anyone: black, white, rich, poor, educated, or not.

A few years ago I found out I was pregnant and I was not in the best situation at the time but I never thought of abortion because at that time I believed it was wrong.

"I want to speak out about my experiences to help de-stigmatize, to help people understand that a good person, a good mom of 2 children, a good social worker, friend, wife, sister daughter, etc...CAN have these experiences in her life and it does not tarnish her at all. It is my right, it was my right, it is no body's business why I choose to end a pregnancy. It is also irrelevant if I have good reasons or bad reasons, I have my reason and that is sufficient."

There is nothing unique about my story - it's pretty typical and common. And yet, I have only ever told 2 people about it. My parents, family, and even best friends still don't know. I work in sexual and reproductive health and rights and advocate for abortion rights everyday and yet I still can't talk about my own abortion.