In 1968 I was divorced with a three year old child. I started dating and soon after became pregnant. Being unmarried and pregnant was not something you could be open about in the sixties, abortion wasn't either. I was terrified. I was sure my ex-husband would sue for sole custody of our child because I was an unfit mother - immoral. My boy friend didn't want to become a father. He told me he had a friend who worked for a pharmacist, who knew a doctor. I felt totally alone, frightened and embarrassed.
I agreed to go. We went to his office after hours and he gave me an injection. I didn't know what it was, I didn't ask, I didn't want to know. I returned the following evening for another injection. The following day I went into labor, the pain was unbearable, so much worse than when I was delivering my child. After about five or six hours I aborted...on the toilet...I remember screaming at the horror of what I had done. Then I went numb - no feelings, nothing.
I bled for days and finally went to see my doctor. I told him I had a miscarriage. He asked if I had taken anything to abort...I said no. He sent me to the hospital. Being prepped for the D&C I was asked again did you take anything to abort. I said no. All of a sudden my abortion became my miscarriage and for over forty years I believed it.
A little over a year ago I was jolted into reality by a dream. It was a nice dream until I realized something was missing...my baby. I couldn't find her. I couldn't remember where she was. How could I have left her somewhere and not remembered? My panic became overwhelming when I couldn't remember her name!
When I woke I could not catch my breath. I was screaming I killed my baby. It took months before I could let myself face it again. I started to pray. I went to confession and was told "God has forgiven you, now you have to forgive yourself.” I thought I could never do that.
A few weeks later at a church function, a woman (I didn't know her very well) asked me if I would like to go with her to a Silent No More meeting. I thought "How could she know?" It was at that meeting that I learned of Rachael's Vineyard Retreats. I went on a weekend retreat which filled me with such hope that I was able to start my journey toward healing, forgiveness, and purpose.