Amelia S. from New Jersey, Helpline Staff
Amelia S.
Looking for adventure, my friends from work and I decided to move cross country from New York to beautiful Colorado. I was 21 years old. While there, I met a man who was seven years older than I was. We “fell in love”, and then, realized I was pregnant. I was in a panic. At the time, abortions were not performed in all states. So, my boyfriend said it would be best to get an abortion, and he proceeded to schedule an abortion in New York. I moved back home with my parents and went to the hospital where the procedure would take place. All this was done without my parents knowing. A friend came with me on this particular day early in the morning. At that time, they put you under full anesthesia. I was in the recovery room when my friend came in and said it was getting late and we needed to get back home. So without the nurse or the doctor’s permission, I got out of bed, put my clothes on, and went home. Days later, I broke out with a fever and chills. My mother called our family doctor and after checking me over, he asked what was going on. I had to tell him what I had done.
He asked if my mother knew. I said I never told her. After he left my room, he immediately told my mother I had an infection from an abortion. She came in my room and cried. I wish I could say that there was a good ending to this part of my story, but there is more. After several months, I returned back to Colorado and married my previous boyfriend. There started a physically abusive relationship. That abuse led to a tragic event in my life. I returned home to New York and although my business life was successful, my personal life was the total opposite. Again, I found myself in a position where I was pregnant and again, my only option (in my limited frame of mind) was abortion.
Let me go back a minute and explain that Even though my mother took us to church with her when we were growing up, it didn’t resonate with me. I knew of God and knew of Jesus, but didn’t know anything truly about Him.
After years of dysfunctional relationships, I started sensing there was something more, something I was missing, asking questions, such as “Is this all there is to life?” I was at a low point. I was pregnant again and single. I started feeling that tug…from God. I had a friend at work who witnessed to me. I found a church (staring me right in the face for years) and started going to a bible study. I, at last, understood who Christ was and the enormous sacrifice he made for me. I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior. I stepped out in faith and He took care of everything for me. A wonderful babysitter who lived two blocks away. A job that was flexible, and I was able to meet the needs of my baby through help from others in those early days of babyhood.
Soon after the Lord placed on my heart the enormity of what I had done and from that day forward, He allowed me to become an advocate for those women with unplanned pregnancies.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11