Dorothy's Story

One week ago today I did something I never thought I would do. I had an abortion. Not that I'm against them, I have always been pro-choice. There's a word for you, Choice, I guess I made mine before I even got pregnant, because once I was, I knew I didn't have one. Not if I wanted to stay married. And I do.

I am a 35 year old mother of four, happily married to a man I really love. A man who has also had a vasectomy. I don't know why, but I cheated on my husband. We were careless and I ended up pregnant. I feel very stupid that I got pregnant to begin with, it's not like we were uninformed kids. And I feel very selfish that I had to end a life. But if I didn't, too many other lives would have been affected, and that too, to me seems selfish.

This past month has been the most emotional time in my life. I am very grateful to have found this web site. Reading the stories of the other women here really helped me before my abortion, and even now it makes me feel less alone.

I am also grateful to all the people at the clinic I went to. Not once did I feel that anyone was judging me. Everyone made me feel at ease, at a time that I wasn't. My Doctor was amazing, he put me at ease, and made me feel comfortable at a very awkward moment. I am very grateful to and for him and others like him, who take the chance to help women who are making the hardest decision of their lives. He helped me get through the procedure, and gave me the okay to feel relieved after it was over.

And I did, I felt relief. Although I am not happy about what I had to do, and I am grieving, I am glad I had the choice and the procedure available to me.

Dorothy*
22 June 1999