When I was 19, I was assaulted and became the victim of a trafficking situation. I became pregnant during this time and chose to get an abortion. Growing up, my family was deeply conservative and was against abortion for any reason. Ultimately, my decision to have an abortion despite the rhetoric of my past and the situation I was in gave me a renewed sense of my own bodily autonomy, which was so needed at a time when it had been taken from me.

After my abortion, I had the courage to escape my traffickers. I’m now a healthcare provider and regularly provide abortion care to my patients, because I know and understand how incredibly important this care is (especially in a time like this). I feel like my abortion gave me my power back and allowed me to get where I am today – I would make the same choice 1000x over, and I will always advocate for my patients to be able to make the choice that is right for them.