The first 16 years of my life were something out of a Lifetime Channel movie; alcoholic, misogynist, abusive stepfather, enabling and psychologically damaged mother, and a spoiled, bratty, but obedient younger sister.

I was an adult, married woman of 25. We had just had a baby. This baby was not growing and was hospitalized at 3 months.

I had an abortion last fall, at age 22. I had just moved across the country following my graduation and was working long hours at low pay to gain clinical experience in hopes of getting into medical school.

I had an abortion when I was a freshman in college and was in my first sexual relationship.

I aborted a wanted pregnancy when I was 32 years old.

My first was at 17. I did it because I was ganged raped and had no idea who the father was
and knew raising that child would be a daily reminder of a traumatic event. Not a fair situation for any child to be raised.