Heidi's Story

I got pregnant when I was 17. It was my senior year in high school and I had a steady boyfriend. When I first missed my period and blamed it on stress (due to graduation). I discussed it with my mother and she suggested that I might be pregnant. She told me to go ahead and take a pregnancy test. At this point I was in denial and decided to give it a couple more weeks.

After those weeks were up I went to the clinic to have my pregnancy test. When the results came back positive, I had mixed emotions. I immediately called my mother and she asked me what I wanted to do. Before then I never thought about my options. As far as I was concerned, abortion was my only option. I had plans-- to go to college and establish a life for myself-- a baby just wasn't part of it.

That same week I made an appointment at a nearby abortion clinic. My mother took off work the next week and she and my aunt drove me to the clinic. I went into the clinic that day unsure of what to expect. I'd heard several abortion stories before but they could not prepare me for what I was about to experience. The actual abortion itself was painful. All I can remember is sweating profusely, curling my toes, and asking God to please let it be over soon. After the actual procedure, I felt worn out and happy to have survived. When I returned home, my father and uncle were waiting, and both treated me as if nothing ever happened.

Looking back on all this I must say, I have no regrets. I feel that the most important right we have as individuals is the freedom of choice, to take this right away is a sin.

Heidi
April 1998