My Abortion Story
I was 24 years old and the mother of three children. I was on a waitlist for legal aid to divorce my dead-beat alcoholic husband. I was on welfare and just found out I was pregnant again.
My story begins with a high school pregnancy. I was 17 and in love; I didn’t believe in abortion. My family is very born-again Christian and religious. Plus, I grew up in Utah, where everyone is Mormon. It’s a very conservative place where marriage at 18 is typical, and having many babies is expected.
Pressure from my church and family had me marry my high school boyfriend. He was not ready for marriage, a baby, or being an adult. Hell, he wasn’t even prepared to be a good boyfriend. All he cared about was partying. Drinking and doing drugs every day was his motto. He didn’t work, and he dropped out of school.
I was on a destructive path with him; however, the minute I found out I was pregnant, I grew up. I focused on school, worked, and prepared for our baby. I was so young and naive and believed God would change him.
I married him and had two more babies. He did get a job, stop partying, and come to church with me for a short period. It didn’t last, though, and I ended up back with my mother. I had to apply for welfare to…
