When I told my mom I was pregnant she immediately made the appointment. I kept hanging the phone up on her and she kept redialing. Finally she got through. When the next morning came I crept down stairs got into my car and sped away – she quickly followed and finally caught up with me. After a fight she convinced me to just go down to have another test done to confirm it. Somehow I later found myself recovering from the abortion wondering, What now? The abortion was performed by a private doctor who happened to be a long time friend of my parents and our next door neighbor.

[I felt] sad, trapped, no way out, confused, angry, in shock, scared.

It was the family secret. I dove heavily into drugs and sex. Constantly having pregnancy tests for fear of being pregnant. I felt scarred and blackened with dirt.

At first, I denied it [the abortion], suppressed it and tried to escape from it. Finally, God called me back to him after years of being and living in disobedience and brought New Hope Pregnancy Aid Center into my life where I had one-on-one as well as group counseling with the book PACE.

I am actually opposed to abortion now and never take a wishy-washy stand. I had a friend who was considering having a second abortion and I was able to talk to her and we both relived the abortion experience and then she realized she could not go through that again and now she has a beautiful one-year-old baby boy. I also (when I’m married) would like to be a shepherding home for unwed pregnant girls. I have also spoken at the New Hope Pregnancy Aid Center dinner and gave my abortion experience testimony to 450 people including a congressman and I was able to let those present know that help is available before abortion as well as after.