Delray Beach mother: I'm living proof why abortion rights are essential | Opinion
I am a wife, a daughter, a sister, a mother of three, and, like nearly one in four women in this country, someone who has had or will have an abortion.
This did not happen as a result of carelessness in high school or college. And it is something that, until recently, I felt ashamed of and would not dare speak about publicly. But we have watched as, year by year, access to abortion has slowly been chipped away. So, as someone who can speak out, it is my responsibility to do so and to do so loudly.
I am the reason we should all care. If it can happen to me, it can happen to you, your daughter, your wife, your sister, your friend.
My story is far from an isolated case.
I was 15 weeks pregnant almost six years ago when my water broke. I rushed to my doctor, where I was encouraged to end my pregnancy. Not wanting to lose this wanted child, I pleaded if there was anything I could do to save my pregnancy. Reluctantly, my doctor admitted me to the hospital for strict bed rest. At this point in my life, I had a five-year-old and a three-year-old. Both needed their mother alive and healthy.
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This wasn’t about choice; it was about necessity.
A necessity to protect my own life. My life and that of my husband and two children.
Abortion is a health care issue and goes far beyond how it is commonly understood. Of course, there are unwanted pregnancies. However, I believe that the decision to end a pregnancy is a difficult one, one that should be made with health care professionals and loved ones, not lawmakers.
Reproductive health is just that. It is health care for pregnant people of all ages, religions, economic situations, marital statuses, and desires to be pregnant. I cannot stress this point enough. This is a health care issue. This could be you. This could be your daughter, your wife, your sister, your friend. This was me.
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Our state is in crisis. And the crisis is only going to get worse. Any day, we will hear from the Florida Supreme Court on whether or not they will strike down Florida’s 15-week abortion ban. If they don’t, 30 days later, a six-week ban will go into effect.
Six years ago, I had my abortion. What would have happened to me if this had happened today or next month? Would they have made me practically bleed to death before giving me the lifesaving treatment I needed? Would I have died? Gone septic? Lost the ability to get pregnant in the future?
Cases like this are becoming all too common in states where they have outlawed or restricted abortions. Lucky for me, this happened during a time when Roe v. Wade was still the law of the land. Because I was able to get proper and timely medical care, my story didn’t end there. My life didn’t end there. My family didn’t end there. Because I was able to get necessary medical care, I was able to carry another child, a very much wanted child.
We should be celebrating more than 50 years of Roe. However, in the year since it fell, states all over the country have been banning or massively restricting reproductive health care. But, we have seen states from Kentucky to Kansas affirm their support for access to abortion. We can do the same. We can pass an amendment that will enshrine reproductive health care in our state constitution. We can put these decisions back in the hands of patients and doctors and take them out of the hands of politicians.
As Floridians, here’s what we have left to do: Go to www.FloridiansProtectingFreedom.com , sign the petition and donate to the movement that’s putting abortion on the ballot in 2024. Above all else, as our freedoms are being challenged, stay informed and get involved in your local community to protect the reproductive freedoms of all Floridians.
Rachel S. Weiner is the co-chair for the statewide campaign for The Religious Action Center, the social action branch of the Union for Reform Judaism.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Abortion survivor urges support for reproductive freedom
