HUMAN RIGHTS: ABORTION AND ITS TRAUMA

ABORTION

Abortion is a sensitive and contentious issue with religious, moral and political dimensions. It is also a public health concern in many parts of the world. More than one-quarter of the world’s population live in countries where it is prohibited or practiced only to save the woman’s life. Yet, regardless of the legal status, abortions still occurs and nearly half of them are done by unskilled practitioners or in less than sanitary conditions or both.

Abortion claims the lives of thousands of babies and women around the world every day. Yes, every day. That is a fact. While in other cases it leaves that number with chronic and irreversible health problems.

Abortion is never the solution except for medical reasons. Below is a true life story submitted by an anonymous contributor.

MY ABORTION DECISION WILL HAUNT ME TO MY GRAVE

When I missed my period, my boyfriend took the urine sample to the lab, and

The results confirmed what I already knew.

I'd gotten pregnant the first time I had sex.

The baby became our dark secret that we
shared with no one.
My boyfriend immediately started pressuring me. "If you want me to think
about marrying you someday, you have to have an abortion."

Then, to force me into doing what he wanted, he explained that his last
girlfriend had agreed to have an abortion, but when he took her to the
clinic, she changed her mind. After that, he left her.
I thought I was in love, and believed that my boyfriend loved me, too,
though he never once asked me what I wanted to do.

I desperately needed to talk to someone else, but I was afraid of shaming my
family and disappointing my teachers. I was a bright student, Always amongst the first 3 in all my years in school, I didn't want anyone to know I wasn't the person they thought I was.

I was pregnant, and I could not turn back the clock. Not fully understanding
that ending my pregnancy would mean ending my child's life, I allowed my
boyfriend to set up an appointment at a local clinic.

About a week before that horrible day, I celebrated my 17th birthday with my
family. When my mother brought out the lighted cake and asked me to make a
wish, I burst into hysterical sobs.

If only I would have had the courage to confide in my parents. My father
would have supported my desire to carry my pregnancy to term, whether I
decided to keep my child or give him or her up for adoption. But like so
many in my position, I was afraid to talk to the very people who loved me
the most.

The day my boyfriend took me to the clinic was the worst day of my life,
and for me, there's never been a day since filled with more anguish or
regret. The clinic offered group counseling. I feared this was designed to
weed out those who didn't really want an abortion, so I told them what I
thought they wanted to hear. "I'm not ready to have a baby. I want to go to
the university."

But none of the so-called reasons I'd offered mattered when I was lying on
the operating table. My knees were shaking violently, and I couldn't stop
the tears from running down my face. The doctor and nurse said that if I
didn't get a hold of myself, they wouldn't do the abortion. Terrified that
my boyfriend would leave me as he'd left the other girl, I submitted to the
procedure.

After the baby was gone, my emotional state vacillated from mild to severe
depression. Finally my worst fears happened, my boyfriend I committed the abortion to be with forever, dumped me just a week after that tragic abortion. My world Crashed.

I fantasized about killing myself.

I drank heavily in high school and in my years in the university. I started sleeping with so many men out of frustration, and also to get over my ex-boyfriend who lied me and then came 3 more unwanted pregnancies which I got rid of.

Then I got into smoking weed - anything to help me forget that I had taken my own children’s life. For years, I hated myself. I walked out into traffic, hoping to get hit by a car.

This September 2013, the children I aborted would have been in their twenties, and I
still wonder what they would have been today, what they would have looked like. I am sobbing right now because all I have now is regrets, During the cause of my abortions, I unfortunately destroyed my womb in the process and today I can`t have a child, a child I seek so badly, just 1 child. I had the opportunity of having 3 or more but I messed it up. All I have is regrets.

I have had 2 failed marriages all because I can`t have kids, and considering our African culture, a child is a fundamental foundation in a marriage.

Although my faith has helped me find forgiveness, I know I will go to my grave grieving for those children whose life I chose to end.

I HOPE MY STORY TOUCHES SOMEONE OUT THERE AND HELPS ERADICATE ABORTION

Anonymous Contributor….