I am writing today because I want to let other women know that they have the right to have their child and should not let anyone take that right from them.

My former boyfriend, who was older than I was, told me since we weren't married that it "wasn't the right time" to have a child and we could have children later. It came to a point that he said having our child would "ruin HIS life."

He drove me to a Planned Parenthood Clinic near Arlington, Va and I got a very sinking feeling when I realized they had removed their name from the sign that says what floor each business was on. (And, after growing wiser I realize that it is a baby-killing business that they're in.) The girl that "interviewed" me provided no information or supportive alternatives to having an abortion. It was a horrible, extremely painful experience. Besides the horrible pain of the procedure, the realization that a new, innocent life was being killed was overwhelming.

Afterwards, I quit my job, spent all of my savings (thousands of dollars) on psychiatric counseling and psychotherapy and didn't want to live. Ten years later, I still profoundly regret the loss.

I have come to forgive the ex-boyfriend because I don't think he really understood the consequences of what we did. I have come to forgive myself for not being stronger and realizing that I had the right to have my child, and no one had the right to take that life away. Now that I have a young family, I am so thankful for the gift of being a mother and for a husband who loves children.

Sincerely,

B. Macy