Hugs All Around…
by A Friend of Katie’s
Although nobody knows, I too am one of “those girls” who opted for an abortion as a teenager. I do not regret my decision one bit. I was raped, and as much as I knew it wasn’t going to be the childs fault if I went ahead and had him/her, I knew that I wouldn’t be able to provide him/her with the quality of life they deserved – both emotionally and physically given the fact that I was so young and the means by which I became pregnant. While I have talked to many people about my rape experience, I have never uttered a single word about the abortion to anyone, not even my best of friends. The abortion itself was not painful, and I most definitely do not regret my decision, but the silence is excruciatingly painful at times, and I truly hope that this is a way of beginning to ease open the door that will allow us to speak more freely about it without being constantly chastized, maybe this will open the eyes of some of those who were on the fence about being anti/pro-choice… And perhaps some day I will be able to discuss the decision that I made with my friends and possibly even my family – even if not, hearing these stories, especially one directly from someone I know, has helped immensely. Thank you to all three of you girls for stepping forward and braving the backlash that was inevitable, your words speak volumes and provide a lot of comfort for those of us that still haven’t quite found the courage to speak up.
Thank you for sharing. Even having the courage to post this is a big step. I hope that the show, and the discussions that follow, will help you feel more comfortable about your decision. Even if you choose to never talk about it, I hope that hearing the stories of other women can help. If you ever do want to talk, or if you need support in telling other people, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m more than willing to offer advice, anecdotes from my own experience, or just a sympathetic ear.
Take care.
Katie
I echo the sentiments of “A Friend of Katie’s” and am grateful to Katie and the others for their courage and conviction. Katie was clearly smart, serious and sensible and speaks eloquently about a very difficult subject. Her actions are opening the eyes of many, close-minded and misinformed people of all ages and backgrouns. Thank you, Katie.