Do you think abortion is right?

I always believed myself to be, like Melissa, pro-choice. That is, until I found out I was pregnant with my first child. My situation at the time was less than ideal, I didn't have a lot of emotional support, not to mention financial, was young and selfishly thinking only of myself, my future, my dreams, my own fear and desperation. I went ahead and chose to have an abortion. I made the appointment. The days leading up to the abortion were of pure hell. Guilt tormented me. In my heart I knew what I was about to do was wrong, but I just couldn't see a way out of it. I showed up at the appointment as scheduled. As I was walking out of the taxi into the clinit, I was approached by two ladies and a gentleman, very soft spoken and kind. They asked me how I was feeling emotionally. They told me they knew what I was about to do, and that they were not there to judge or condem me, just to show me that there were other ways, that not all was as desperate as it may have seemed, that they were there to just help in whatever ways they could to help me make an INFORMED decision. Because of my fragility and the kindness in their eyes, which I'm sure will be mocked by many here, and the feeling of tranquility and peace their kindness brought inside of me, I decided to go to the coffee shop around the corner to talk to them. I was, as instructed by the clinic, three hours early for my appointment, so I had time. That conversation changed my life entirely.I finally felt I had someone to talk to, to listen to my fears about everything, and someone to share all the feelings of guilt that had been tormenting me without judging me or pushing me to do something that in my heart I knew was wrong, like many of my friends and family were doing at the time. After giving me real FACTS about pregnancy, fetal development as well as exactly what happens during an abortion, as well as ofering to show me photographs of aborted babies which I agreed to see,I was 100% convinced that not only what I was about to do was evil, monstruous and wrong, but that unlike what I had previously thought, I was not alone in this world, there were plenty of good people and organizations willing, out of the goodness of their hearts to give you whatever support they can. I know it sounds corny and that I will be mocked for saying this, but I felt as if I could literally see a path of light and peace in front of me, and all these beautiful possibilities opened up before my eyes. For the first time in weeks, I felt in control of my life and my decisions, and for the first time since discovering of my unplanned pregnancy, I could really see a happy future, full of love between myself and my child. I guess in my heart, I always knew abortion was murder and wrong, but because of my young age and circumstances at the time, I'm not sure if back then, had I not met those wonderful three people in one of the most difficult times of my life, that I wouldn't have gone through with the abortion. It is amazing what a few words of loving support, understanding, compassion and non-judgement can do to make a human being completely change the way she/he views the world around them.
I never went inside the clinic on that life-changing day. I got the phone numbers of those lovely people, whom I call my 3 guardian angels, and unlike many people who are pro-choice like to claim, they were there for me and my baby, 24/7 throughout my entire pregnancy and are still a part of my life to this day, nearly 14 1/2 years later. They introduced me to other young mothers, who like myself, had been lucky enough to have a kind human being offer them support and show them another way,as well as many others who gave me all the love I needed. I gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby boy on January 24th,1995. The feelings inside of me the first time I held his tiny, defenseless body in my arms and looked in his eyes for the first time are, to this day undescribable. I have never felt such love. And I had never felt such a strong conviction that no mater what we'd be okay. I cannot imagine my life without him.
Since then, I have given birth 4 more times, to one more boy, and two more girls. My career as a writer took off and I have been able to financially live a very comfortable life and give my children all of the things I feared I might never be able to. But most importantly, I give them the one thing money cannot buy: love.
I cannot imagine a day without my children in my life. As for the question of weather abortion is right or wrong, or the pro-choicers arguments that no one can tell a woman what to do with her body, it's her choice, etc, that everyone has the legal and moral right to choose what is best for them and what they want to do with their bodies, I ask you: What choice does the innocent child growing in your belly have? He/she did not choose to be there, to be concieved, you made the choice the moment you decided to have intercourse with a man, and in making that choice, don't you think that you've also made the choice to put a child into your body? Children depend on us for everything, for their safety and protection, for the food they eat, for shelter, for love and that dependency occurs the minute hey enter our bodies through our choices. Pregnancy is one of the many stages of parenthood. I again ask the pro-choicers: Why do you feel you have the right to decide if a person is worthy of life or not? Weather you choose to admit this or not, becoming pregnant was a choice you made when you had intercourse, and with that choice comes responsibilities. Who is going to protect your baby if you won't? I urge anyone that is considering an abortion to think and re-think it a million times a swell as to research your community for help and support, There are thousands of people there willing to help. All you have to do is ask.
I thank God everyday for putting those three angels in my life on that fateful day. I am now happily 14 weeks pregnant and cannot wait to become a mother again. I wish everyone peace, happiness, love and wisdom.