The Pro-Life group Human Coalition shared a story on their Facebook page highlighting the long-lasting effects of abortions that are often overlooked. In every abortion a child loses his or her Life and a mother and father lose a child. The survivors of abortion can suffer from emotional wounds, regret, and guilt for years to come—sometimes even for a lifetime. However, there is hope and there is healing. A post from Human Coalition shared the story of one woman who experienced years of anguish before she found healing.
The woman, identified only as “Mama Anne” and “Grannie Annie,” is far from alone in speaking out. More women in our communities are joining the efforts of groups like Silent No More, which share stories of parents who regret ending the lives of their preborn children. Even the mainstream media is taking note, featuring stories of abortion regret and offering information on Silent No More, Rachel’s Vineyard, and others. Celebrities are also speaking out about their stories of abortion regret. Unfortunately these stories, like athlete Sanya Richards-Ross’s, reveal the tremendous pressure faced by professional athletes and entertainers to choose abortion, because their children are viewed as inconveniences to their career.
Marking the 20th anniversary of the tragic death of Princess Diana, Pro-Lifers have noted the unspeakable pain that abortion may have brought to Princess Diana’s final years. Close friends and biographers have speculated about how the pain and regret of that abortion decision galvanized Princess Diana’s work to aid children in need. A writer for Rachel’s Vineyard explains, “In the aftermath of a secret and traumatic experience like abortion, it’s not uncommon for women and men to become involved with charitable causes that can in some sense repair the damage, and provide an outlet for the buried pain.” The reasons women choose abortion are often complicated by coercion, fear, and misinformation. Coming to terms with that reality is also a necessary part of healing.
“Anne,” the woman in Human Coalition’s post, writes, “I looked like a very successful 73-year young woman on the outside. I had done very well on my own. But, deep inside of my successful life, there was a pain that wouldn’t go away caused by two abortions almost 50 years before.” She explains that being abused in childhood made her extremely fearful that she would abuse her own children. Once she began to heal these wounds left by abuse, she saw how unfounded her fears were and says “it is unfathomable that I ever felt that way.”
Like many post-abortive women, Anne finally found a way to heal through a support group. She writes, “Fifty years after my abortions, I fully faced what I had done and took responsibility with no excuses. Rather than be condemned, I was loved and supported by the group.” With the help of that group, Anne was able to name her children, write them letters, and finally lay them to rest in a memorial celebration. With healing came growth. Anne saw how she had acted as a mother figure to a young woman, and now Anne is blessed by that woman’s children whom she views as her own granddaughters. Anne also ministered to Sudanese refugees, becoming “Mama Anne” for almost an entire tribe.
Anne’s words to women suffering after abortion are filled with hope. She urges, “If you have done what I did, trust me… God is just waiting to love you, forgive you and give you children in a way you never dreamed. If you are considering an abortion for any reason, please talk with someone who has been there, hold on, don’t give up. God can make a way.”
An abortion decision cannot be judged in a desperate moment or even in a few years. The consequences of taking a human Life unfold over our lifetimes. Stories like Anne’s are so important because they show not only the irreversible consequences of abortion but also the hope that comes when we offer forgiveness and learn to choose Life.
If you or a loved one is suffering after an abortion, you are not alone. Contact Silent No More or Rachel’s Vineyard for more information about resources in your area.