I am a mother of two lovely daughters and a doting grandmother of two absolutely adorable urchins. I've been pregnant. Loved it. I've given birth. Except for the last 30 minutes or so and the episiotomy, that wasn't too bad. Women close to me, family and friends, have been pregnant and given birth.
If I believed in a god, I would praise/worship/sacrifice in thankfulness for my health, my daughter's health, and my family and friends' health through pregnancies and the uneventful births of healthy babies.
We have been extremely fortunate. Not all women and babies are. I can't even begin to comprehend the pain which took families to Dr. Tiller's clinic. This is the true tragedy of his loss.
The punditry, androcentric, don't appear to differentiate the circumstances involved in choosing a first trimester abortion and the heartrending "Sophie's choice" of a late-term abortion.
It's an admirable goal to reduce the number of abortions through education and safe, reliable, and affordable birth control. However, birth control has zero impact on the rate of late-term abortions because these babies are wanted. They are loved. Their nurseries are furnished. Anyone who has children or wants children can understand the anticipation, the excitement, the joy of impending birth. I can't believe any woman will reach the point of fetus viability and choose abortion except under the most dire of circumstances. Not to mention the expense, inconvenience, and legal aspects of obtaining one.
Dr. Tiller was one of only three OB/GYNs in the nation willing, able, and ready to help families through a parent's absolute worst nightmare. That's the tragedy. Now there are only two. My heart goes out the Dr. Tiller's family and friends and I weep for the families facing this most horrible of choices with one less ally.
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