Students for Life of America recently shared a video that was taken at a Planned Parenthood Project display at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The Planned Parenthood Project is a pro-life educational outreach that provides information about the abortion giant.
At the University of Missouri-St. Louis, a young woman named Anya started talking to one of the people working the display. Anya was brave enough to share her testimony in a video:
Here are some statements from Anya:
“I went to Planned Parenthood, and I saw the protesters and I was actually, like, forced into an abortion. And it was something that I regretted. More information was needed…”
The interviewer then asked Anya what she thought would have helped her when she was going through her unplanned pregnancy. She answered:
“I think I should’ve had more support. It was my mom’s decision. I was living with her; I was ready to graduate high school and it was just something I didn’t know was going to be so traumatic. I didn’t know I was going to be affected by it for the rest of my life.”
The interviewer then asked her what her experience was like at Planned Parenthood of St. Louis:
“It was horrible. I’m sorry, but it was horrible. I was 17; I was in a relationship and I was ready to graduate…my mom was forcing me. She was like, ‘You need to have this done, or you can’t stay here.'”
“It was something that I didn’t know was going to change my life for the negative because I wonder every day: ‘Was it a boy? Was it a girl?’ I mean – I have 3 children now and it’s still a thought in the back of my head, like, ‘Why didn’t I have that baby? Why couldn’t I have that baby at that time?'”
Although Anya doesn’t give details about her experience at Planned Parenthood, it’s clear that the abortion giant failed her. At the very least, she was not properly screened or counseled about her pregnancy and her options. She was not told how emotionally traumatic the aftermath of abortion could be. She was not warned about post-abortion syndrome, or about the depression that can accompany abortion. In addition, the clinic workers did not know or did not care that she was being forced into an abortion.
What would have helped Anya? Support from a concerned friend? Honest counseling? Pro-life intervention through sidewalk counseling? A trip to a crisis pregnancy center? While there is no way to be certain, it’s possible that any one of these things might have made a huge difference.
Pro-lifers can give support to Anya. Sadly though, it is too late to save her baby. Pro-life people need to let their friends and loved ones know that they can turn to them if they are facing an unplanned pregnancy.
Supporting crisis pregnancy centers and directing women to them is also an important way to ensure that women aren’t forced into abortions.
Raising awareness for organizations that help women both before and after their abortions is also important. Social media sites like Facebook are an easy way to spread information to many people at once. It takes very little effort to share hotlines and the websites of organizations that help women with unplanned pregnancies.
One such organization is Birthright, which has a hotline available 24 hours: 1-800-550-4900.
Another is Optionline with the hotline: 1-800-712-HELP
Of course, providing hotline numbers is great, but letting your loved ones know they can come to you for support may be even more important. A willingness to help and learn about the available resources can make a huge difference in a mother’s life- and the life of her preborn baby.
