I’m 68 now. I was 41 when I had an abortion. I was laying in a table at Planned Parenthood in Chicago, with a nurse assistant holding my hand as I wailed with grief during the procedure. I had 2 children age 12 and 10, a boy and girl.
I continued to cry deeply off and on for 2 weeks, but never did I regret my decision. I was a single parent after a difficult divorce and had been dating a great guy who I’ve been married to now for 26 years now. He has had Parkinson’s for the last 17 years now.
The counselor at Planned Parenthood who I spoke with before the procedure explained that it was more emotionally painful because I had given birth already and knew what I was losing.
I told my daughter when she was 20 years old and she said it would have been terrible for her after the divorce to have to lose the time and attention that she needed because I was taking care of a baby. I was financially struggling and knew it was vital that I made a thoughtful decision before I married again.
I cried deeply then and many times afterward but always felt I made the best decision for all of us. My husband is so grateful that we made this decision also.
