i had my abortion when i was 22 and in an unhealthy relationship. we knew we weren’t going to last as a couple, weren’t ready to be parents and couldn’t provide a child with a loving (or safe) environment, so the decision was an easy one. i scheduled my appointment and had my abortion at a planned parenthood in bellingham, wa. i was cared for, talked to (not at) and all my questions were answered. pp gave me comfort and confidence.

and then i walked outside.

after my abortion the stigma surrounding the legal and common procedure, ate away at me. some of my friends, family members, acquaintances and strangers alike, all told me i was wrong, a coward, that i was a murderer or that i went against a plan designed for my by a higher power. i started drinking and doing drugs, because i was convinced something was wrong with me. i didn’t feel regret for my decision, even though multiple people around me told me i should.

i ended up driving drunk and wrecking my car. i almost died. i woke up hanging upside down, saved by my seatbelt, with a concussion, broken ribs and a gash across my chest.

my abortion was safe, but the stigma almost killed me. it’s because others stand up and talk about their abortions, and because i had access to a mental health professional, that i can now say i’m almost 29, a proud mother to a 1 1/2 year old, and a proud woman who is more than happy to share her story, so that we can end the stigma and save the lives of countless women, everywhere.