This is the 4th of 19 things I've done with my "thrown away" life--that you may find hard to believe.
I took precautions (spermacidal foam) but still she got pregnant. I was in my early 30's---she was perhaps 20. Neither of us wanted to be parents. I think my stress may have been as great as hers--both our dreams for the future were evaporating. The doctor said she was about 6 weeks on. When I asked, he said "I don't do abortions---they are illegal". He prescribed something to start her period. Useless! I asked everyone I knew. Eventually found a "nurse" who knew how to induce a miscarriage.
It was done(for a hundred dollars) and three days later the lady began to bleed alarmingly. I hurried her to the hospital and a d&c was performed. They asked lots of awkward questions and we somehow bumbled our way through the paperwork. It took weeks for her full recovery.
I detail this so you can appreciate the fury I feel at those who stand in the way of safe and legal abortions---and my resolve to help others with unwanted pregnancies.
I looked for and eventually found a doctor a hundred miles away who would risk his professional career to help desperate women. On one occasion I drove a lady there paid the $250 fee, waited the half hour till the procedure was done then kept her several days. She healed quickly without complications. What a difference!
Later, some of us in the first commune began to facilitate access to safe abortions.
We found a local doctor we trusted and who trusted us. The ladies of our community would welcome patients secretly routed to us---comfort them--arrange a betadine bath before the procedure --transport them and attend them afterward. We charged nothing---and the doctor charged very little. (A female gynecologist who shared our belief in reproductive choice) I remember with pride our tiny underground railroad.
RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES: Lives are wrecked by unwanted pregnancies. The battle for reproductive freedom goes on. There is no good reason for unwanted children. I marched in the Washington DC million person demonstration for safe and legal abortions and joined defenders of the clinic in Tampa, Fla against the anti-choice fanatics. On occasion I have tried to reason with these crazies. The Santa Fe New Mexican published my article on the limits of expendability---my best arguments for choice. I marched with a pro choice demonstration in Tallahassee, carrying a sign I made saying:
ACORNS ARE NOT AN OAKS
ZYGOTES ARE NOT FOLKS
I took precautions (spermacidal foam) but still she got pregnant. I was in my early 30's---she was perhaps 20. Neither of us wanted to be parents. I think my stress may have been as great as hers--both our dreams for the future were evaporating. The doctor said she was about 6 weeks on. When I asked, he said "I don't do abortions---they are illegal". He prescribed something to start her period. Useless! I asked everyone I knew. Eventually found a "nurse" who knew how to induce a miscarriage.
It was done(for a hundred dollars) and three days later the lady began to bleed alarmingly. I hurried her to the hospital and a d&c was performed. They asked lots of awkward questions and we somehow bumbled our way through the paperwork. It took weeks for her full recovery.
I detail this so you can appreciate the fury I feel at those who stand in the way of safe and legal abortions---and my resolve to help others with unwanted pregnancies.
I looked for and eventually found a doctor a hundred miles away who would risk his professional career to help desperate women. On one occasion I drove a lady there paid the $250 fee, waited the half hour till the procedure was done then kept her several days. She healed quickly without complications. What a difference!
Later, some of us in the first commune began to facilitate access to safe abortions.
We found a local doctor we trusted and who trusted us. The ladies of our community would welcome patients secretly routed to us---comfort them--arrange a betadine bath before the procedure --transport them and attend them afterward. We charged nothing---and the doctor charged very little. (A female gynecologist who shared our belief in reproductive choice) I remember with pride our tiny underground railroad.
RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES: Lives are wrecked by unwanted pregnancies. The battle for reproductive freedom goes on. There is no good reason for unwanted children. I marched in the Washington DC million person demonstration for safe and legal abortions and joined defenders of the clinic in Tampa, Fla against the anti-choice fanatics. On occasion I have tried to reason with these crazies. The Santa Fe New Mexican published my article on the limits of expendability---my best arguments for choice. I marched with a pro choice demonstration in Tallahassee, carrying a sign I made saying:
ACORNS ARE NOT AN OAKS
ZYGOTES ARE NOT FOLKS
A picture of the published article which was well received in the Liberal Santa Fe environment. You probably cannot read it here but its arguments are contained in the links given above.
BUILDING AN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FOR SAFE ABORTIONS
Reviewed by Unknown
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November 24, 2014
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Reviewed by Unknown
on
November 24, 2014
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