Lobbyists, various groups, citizens, politicians including numerous US Presidents support The Right to Life. With this looms the possibility that we may eventually have a constitutional amendment addressing abortion. What was once illegal is now legal and may become illegal again.

With pro Choice/Pro Life positions….this is surely an example of a morally loaded issue..from one point of view there is a victim, the fetus. From another point of view there is No victim.

In 1980 I found myself in the dilemma of having an unwanted pregnancy. I was single, already a parent of a 5-1/2 year old daughter.

My first marriage had ended in 1975 with my then husband saying he no longer wanted the responsibility of a wife and child…. abandoning us at a cheap hotel... while our baby was still yet an infant. I was hurting, shocked and devastated. The disbelief and sadness was pronounced. My baby and I was facing homelessness especially as it neared time to check out of the hotel.   

 I was living from paycheck to paycheck working for the State of California.

Besides I had taken precaution and responsibility by using an IUD. I did not expect or want to be pregnant.

I had been going steady with John for 6 months and was not ready for this. When my pregnancy was confirmed, I was stunned. On the way back home from that appointment at the GYN clinic I had to pull the car over to the side of the road because I could not stop crying. The doctor had been non-judgmental, direct and supportive. He had outlined my alternatives including abortion. After he  removed the IUD... that very night I began cramping in fact that whole night I cramped continuously... I was hoping the baby/fetus would be expelled that way I would be blameless.

 I was still so far from any family support (Indiana-California). Besides I was already a single parent...I did not have much time because if I was going to abort I wanted it to be early.

When I saw my doctor again I tried to muster my courage to make the “right” decision.

I….. knew my decision….. I could not have the abortion.

Weeks later when I felt the quiver of life in my womb I started falling in love with my unborn baby, my Nyema Priscilla Jasper. 

I got married for a second time when I was 6 weeks pregnant.

PLEASE NOTE: In no way do I intend to present myself as a role model, or Miss goody-two shoes or God forbid an attempt to be anyone’s shining example. Nor am I trying to influence or judge someone else’s choice. Under different circumstances my decision could/would have been different.

However, one thing I know for sure political legislations were of no help to me in making such a profound decision affecting my personal life.