My grandmother had a back alley abortion in the early 1930’s. They had two young children, no jobs or money for food. Their neighbors helped them out. First by paying for the abortion, then for calling the doctor when my grandmother fell deathly ill. My mother told me she remembers sitting on the porch when the doctor left the house. He stopped and patted her on the back in such a way she thought her mother was dying. She nearly died from massive bleeding and infection.
My mother became a lifelong defender of legalized abortions. She felt no child should have to wonder if their loved one was going to survive due to butchering, because they chose an abortion.
My grandmother never had another baby. I have always thought it was because she couldn’t.
I honor two great women for their courage.