Status Updates From The Choices We Made: Twenty...

"Women don't sell as well as babies sell"

It's upsetting to see how many of these stories have common underlying elements: lack of education, ignorance, can't tell parents, shame, female whisper networks, unsafe abortion conditions, daughters they try to raise differently etc.

"We are not great powers. But we are the light. Nobody can put us out. May we shine very bright and steady, today and always."

Polly Bergen's experience made me cry. She carried guilt and shame for so long, and for what? For having sex? We cannot let silence and shame lead women to despair.

These stories are so important and I'm glad that some of the women discovered male doctors who were ethical and performed the procedure in a safe way.

Angela Bonavoglia calls the sharing of women's abortion stories an "echo" through a corridor. I think that's really moving.