She said, “Do you want to schedule an abortion?” I said, “I guess so.”

Author: Anonymous

I was adopted in 1973 and raised just outside of New York City. I had a very privileged childhood. Growing up, I always got straight A’s in school and wore a smile on my face.

But as soon as I entered high school, it seemed like my crazy, wild red hair kicked in. And by the time I was a freshman in college, I found myself pregnant. I don’t think there was much of a conversation about abortion…It was like, “This is what you’re going to do.” The appointment at the abortion clinic was the quickest thing I’ve ever gone through.

The clinic employee said, “You’re pregnant. Are you ready to be a parent?”

I said, “No.”

She said, “Do you want to schedule an abortion?”

I said, “I guess so.” And I remember thinking, “That’s it? That’s all you get?” There’s no discussion of a baby or a heartbeat — nothing about the risks or the emotional pain I might feel afterward. I was convinced you could just shove the abortion down deep, as far as you can…and go on.

Years later, I started dating the man who would later become my husband, and we began attending a small Bible church. That’s really where I first learned about forgiveness. And during a luncheon for the pregnancy center where I now work, I became aware that post-abortive healing was available to me — 15 years after I had my abortion.

God was so sweet to me as I went through the healing process. He said, “It was a girl, and her name is Lily.” For me, I believe post-abortion healing is the process that removes the ankle weights you carry around from having had an abortion. Now I work for a pro-life organization, and my life has completely turned around. I feel like I’m able to run the race that God has laid before me where I couldn’t do it before on my own.