My parents had told me before I left for college that if I ever got pregnant before marriage or had an abortion they would never speak to me again. Of course I figured it could never happen to me.

The choice was clear to me. I would be starting my 3rd year in college and I was neither mentally or financially prepared for a child. I am thankful every day that I made the decision I did.

I had just turned 16 and had sex for the first time with a person who I thought meant everything. It wasn't bad, but I figured I wouldn't end up pregnant.

I was 19, and it was just three months into what would later turn into a severely abusive relationship when I figured out I was pregnant.

I will forever be grateful that my decision to have an abortion was treated with professionalism, dignity, and kindness by the medical professionals who helped me

In the mid 1990's, I had an unwanted pregnancy. I was living paycheck-to-paycheck. I did not have health insurance, and I was working in a restaurant. My job was physically challenging enough without the burden of pregnancy.