The day I told my parents I thought I might be pregnant remains the worst day of my life. I had been raised Catholic and my mother was very observant.

In 1980 I was a 19 year old college student on the pill & in a committed relationship when I took antibiotics for a sinus infection ; ended up pregnant a month later; so for me the choice felt very clear; it was my choice to make. Married 22 years now with two grown children; I can say that regardless of ones choice it is life changing,; we all second guess ourselves.

I had missed my period by about 4 days and didn't think twice just because of how cautious we were being. Well, the symptoms started. Tender breasts, morning nausea, fatigue... you name it, I had it. It hit me like a ton of brick that I was pregnant.

I am a new person now, much stronger and wiser. I don't feel like I would have been able to do this, or to keep going, if I had been such a young mother in such a bad situation.

I was completely heartbroken and had no idea what to do. I never imagined having an abortion let alone getting pregnant so young. But ultimately that was my decision.

I have submitted this story to shed light on something that we all know to be true but sometimes others forget: a woman’s right to carry her pregnancy to term or have an abortion is the sole right of that woman, something she shouldn’t be pressured about.