My Abortion

My husband and I have been together for 12 years. Shortly after our wedding in 2016, we started trying to conceive. Unfortunately, we discovered that we are part of the 1 in 8 couples who struggle with infertility.

In the darkness of 2020, we were shocked and delighted to discover that I was finally pregnant. I was 8 weeks along and was so excited to become a parent. I took my first “bump” photos on January 20th, 2021—the day of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s inauguration. I was so excited for our future and the world we were building for our baby.

Unfortunately, at our 12 week ultrasound we learned the worst: my pregnancy wasn’t viable, and trying to carry it to term could put my health & my life at risk. We needed to have an abortion.

So on February 4th, 2021 my pregnancy ended. It was one of the hardest days of my life. And yet—I knew I was lucky. I live in Oregon where voters and Democratic lawmakers have time after time affirmed that we believe that all pregnant people, whatever their reason, deserve access to abortion care.

I was able to have my abortion with my regular, incredible, OBGYN, in my normal healthcare setting, and I didn’t have to worry about how I would pay because my insurance was required to foot the bill thanks to the Reproductive Health Equity Act which Democrats passed and Governor Brown signed into law in 2017.

Across the country, we have seen unprecedented attacks on abortion care, but this week our neighbors in Idaho found that extremist Republicans in their state legislature have sent a draconian anti-abortion bill to their governor’s desk. This bill will ban abortion after 6 weeks in Idaho and will put a bounty on the head of abortion providers who offer care to their patients.

In Idaho, I would have been forced to continue my pregnancy, not only coping with the physical and emotional trauma of carrying a fetus that wouldn’t live outside the womb, but also putting my own life at risk.

My heart breaks for Idahoans and for Eastern Oregonians who rely on doctors in Idaho for their healthcare—who choose to have abortions for all kinds of reasons—each of them equally as valid as mine. My heart breaks for people who cannot access the healthcare they need and who will seek care under the table because they cannot travel to safe abortion states.

Today, I’m asking you to join me in making a donation to Northwest Abortion Access Fund which will help Idahoans in need of abortion access get the care they need. Please also consider making a contribution to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon and Pro-Choice Oregon, two organizations who have fought and continue to fight every day for reproductive justice here at home and across the Pacific Northwest.

You can also sign up now to volunteer and get involved with our efforts to protect our Democratic majorities and re-elect our pro-choice champions here in Oregon.

Thank you for supporting Democrats and our shared values.

In Solidarity,

The Democratic Party of Oregon is powered by supporters like you. If you're able, please donate to help Keep Oregon Blue in 2022!

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