i had an abortion on april 26, 1984 when i was just barely 13 years old. my adoptive parents had a distant cousin of theirs, more a friend of the family, living with us.

we were married in the early 80's and didn't really do much birth control beyond withdrawal, but we hadn't planned on kids, and even though we had sex for years, i didn't get pregnant until 1986.

i spent my whole life feeling like i owed someone something.

in 1989, when the supreme court ruled in the webster decision, i hearkened the call to become active in the pro-choice movement.

i had an abortion the day before my 14th birthday. after taking a home pregnancy test, i told my mother i was pregnant.

the roe v wade decision was made in january 1973. i had my abortion in 1970, and i had it in mexico city. i was 22, had a 1-1/2 year old child, a husband with a minimum-wage job, and was taking in ironing and cleaning houses to bring in extra money.