Theres a big difference between being pro-choice and pro-abortion.
Pro-choice means you support awomans right to choosewhat happens to her in regards to herreproductive rights.
It doesnt necessarily mean you whole-heartedly support and promote abortion.
Graphic by Dana Davenport
I dont know if I could ever get an abortion, but Im vehemently pro-choice.
In 1978, my mother gave birth to her first child, a baby boy.
She and my father had dreamed of starting a family, but the road wasnt easy.
Theytried for over a yearbefore my mother got pregnant with my older brother.
But something was wrong.
He was a beautiful baby, but his head was a little too big.
After 6 months, a pediatrician was concerned he still couldnt support his own head.
In layman’s terms, my brother would never learn to walk or talk.
He’d never grow up.
Life expectancy for a Canavan child is at best 10 years, and thats all he got.
Not long after my brothers diagnosis, my mother got pregnant again.
But my mother knew something was off.
My twin sister didnt seem right.
And this is where my story begins.
Imagine growing up waiting for a phone call telling you that your brother or sister has died.
Imagine having no control over the situation and feeling guilt, shame, and sadness at all times.
Imagine watching your parents hearts break again and again and again.
I spent years racked with guilt asking why I lived and my sister didnt.
The prenatal screening allowed parents to find out if their fetus had inherited the disease.
And with that, came options.
Not just a child with Canavan disease, but one who will suffer fromseizures, paralysis, or blindness.
In other words, abortion offers an alternative to suffering.
Im not saying abortion is the right choice for everyone.
I also know that abortion comes with its own pain and consequences of losing a child.
There is no easy choice here, but the operative word is choice.
Having a child is a verypersonal and private decision.
When that baby is ill or dying, the choices you make become even harder.
Why would anyone think they have the right to take away your choices?
Are they going to raise that child?
Cry over that child?
And mourn that child when they die?
Let them stand in your shoes for just 5 minutes and see how easy it is then.
