My name is Shannon and I had an abortion 2 days ago. I had a one night stand with an old friend that thought he was fixed. I had my ended my period 4 days prior to this and never in a million years did I suspect that I would be ovulating that night. I waited and waited for my period to come and it never showed up. 2 positive pregnancy tests later, I realized I needed to do something. I let the father know that I was pregnant and he didn't believe that I was. I told him I had taken 2 tests that came up positive.

I couldn't believe this was happening. Here I am, 32 years old, raising a 9 year old daughter on my own without her own father in the picture and I wasn't about to have that happen again. I knew that he'd be around for this one but it wouldn't be fair to this baby to be tossed around from parent to parent every other weekend. I decided that an abortion would be the best thing for me. I was having health problems (high blood pressure that was almost stroke level, edema, and blood clots) and I didn't want to carry it to full term. I knew that I had to be there for my daughter because I'm all she has.

I had made an appointment for consultation in the next state since the state where I reside doesn't have any close to me (other than 2 hours away or 6 hours away), and went over there in good spirits knowing that this problem would soon be over. I scheduled the 1st appointment and on that morning, I had to reschedule due to no one being available to take me as planned. I mulled around that next week toying with the idea of going ahead and keeping it and risking the health problems. I finally realized the couple of days before the appointment that I was going through with it and not looking back. The morning of the appointment, I was extremely scared and nervous. I kept thinking "What if I don't make it through the procedure?" (I'm terribly afraid of anesthesia) "What's going to happen to me?" The father of the baby went with me over there and I went through with the procedure with no problems at all. The clinic had given me valium to calm me down and I had "laughing gas" as an anesthetic. I don't remember most of the procedure but I do remember the pain and some of the conversation. I had gone in there with the mindset that I was having a very painful pap smear to alleviate any fear or guilt I had.

When I think about the whole thing, it was a learning experience and I don't regret that I had it done. I really feel relieved about having an abortion knowing that I'll be there for my daughter. I've realized that it's a stumbling block ... but yet a lesson I learned and I'm not sorry that I did the right thing.