Women everywhere are speaking out against injustice. I am a woman who was unjustly coerced and lied to.
At the age of 17 I had a six month old baby and I was pregnant. I felt overwhelmed with the thought of having another child to care for. The night before the abortion I dreamed of a little girl running in a field of flowers. She came to me and said, “Mommy, don’t kill me.” I told my husband I did not want to go through with the abortion. He felt he was doing what was best for me.
During the abortion procedure I was told that a suction hose would be used- like those used in dentist offices. The sound of the suction hose placed such a fear into my subconscious that I had panic attacks visiting the dentist.
I buried the events of the abortion. The guilt, shame, pain, and grief was very alive within me.
I stand before you a woman who by the grace of God is able to speak out against the lies that were told to me. Lie number 1: What was extracted from my body was just a blob of tissue. Truth: It was developing baby with a heartbeat and her name was Jenene Renee Hall. Lie number 2: The abortion was what was best for me. Truth: Things that are good for me are not done in secret, and they do not leave me with emotional and physical scars.
I attended a Surrendering the Secret class and a Rachel's Vineyard Retreat where I accepted forgiveness for my actions. I allowed Jesus to tenderized my heart toward my husband who had unjustly coerced me into the abortion.
Today I encourage all women who have experienced an abortion to stand up against injustice and be silenced no more. This is why I serve as the Central Missouri Regional Coordinator for the Silent No More Awareness Campaign.
