“pregnancy was hard for me. harder than i originally thought, i mean who thought the joining of two cells could wreak such havoc on a body?\u00a0i felt a lot of guilt like i was weak for not being able to carry a pregnancy to term.\u201d<\/p>\n
rachel used the phrase \u201cliving in the shadows\u201d to describe her life after terminating her pregnancies. she knew she had made the right decisions for her health, yet she still felt ashamed, which in turn led her to hide her experience and isolate herself from others.<\/p>\n
the only abortion clinic in the state of west virginia is where rachel had her second abortion performed.<\/p>\n
\u201cthe escorts were fantastic when i got my abortions. i want to stand and show to the world that abortion is an everyday thing that should be a stigma free decision.\u201d<\/p>\n
due to her health conditions, rachel was unable to carry her pregnancies to term without risking her life. her abortions saved her life, and rachel is determined to use her time in service of others. among her other service work, rachel volunteers with her local humane society, where she helps find homes for animals in kill shelters.<\/p>\n
\u201ci have felt in the past like an outcast in my own home state for having an abortion. i will no longer apologize or seclude myself for saving my own life and future that i share with my little family.” – rachel<\/p>\n
rachel\u00a0was photographed as part of the 1 in 3 photography project. <\/span>see more photos and stories from the project.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n [aigpl-gallery-slider id=”5009″]<\/p>\n