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Real Stories
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What are REAL TEENS saying about their choices.
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Hanna's Story
I found out that I was pregnant a few weeks following my first Valentines Day with my boyfriend. My first reactions
were bitterness. I knew in my heart that having an abortion was wrong, although I did consider it as a "quick fix."
I also knew that at fifteen, there was absolutely no way that I could care for a baby. It would probably destroy both
of our lives. I decided that adoption was going to be my best choice. Although, the unfortunate con to this was
going to be that I had to tell my parents. My confession broke their hearts, but they told me that we were going to
get through this toghether and we were going to choose the best family possible for the baby.
We contacted Gladney Adoption Agency, and set up an appointment. The representative was very friendly, and
my anxiety dissapeared faster than I expected it too. I was given a notebook full of the profiles of families
that wanted to adopt. It took a few weeks, because I did not want to hand my own flesh and blood over to just anyone.
Finally, I found the perfect match in a young couple a few hours away. After reading their profile, I knew they would
raise my child with the life that it deserves.
The pregnancy went by slowly, and I ended up homeschooling that year, altough my friends were more supportive than I
expected. The day that I handed Charlie over to his new mother was the most bittersweet experience of my life.
Even though I was feeling pain, I knew that it was what was best for him.
Six years have gone by. I receive occasional e-mails from Charlie's parents, updating me on his life and enclosing
photos. He is doing very well and will be entering the first grade soon. I am now a senior in college, and
I plan to go to medical school. I have been able to get my life back on track, and recover from my experience.
I feel as if both Charlie and I got a second chance at life.
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"...the pain and guilt
of feeling that I deprived someone of experiencing life will continue to haunt me."
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Sara Beth's Story
I’ll never forget that apprehensive feeling that I had inside
of me as I left the clinic. I was feeling so many emotions at one time. I did the right thing, I thought
to myself. You're the head cheerleader, student body president, your dad is the pastor of the most well known church
in town, and you basically live in a fishbowl. You could never have worked your way out
of this one. The drive home was long and a continuation of those same mixed feelings. I was really glad that my
parents were out of town for the weekend, although that helped get me into this mess in the first place. I cranked up
the music in my car, trying to drown out any emotion that I was feeling. At that point, I was really glad that my problem
was over and I didn't have to deal with it anymore. Little did I know, the real problem was just beginning.
For the next month, I had nightmares about a baby crying for his mommy as he
was being sucked into a vaccuum. My grades began to fall and I began to spend more and more time alone. I didn't
feel like I deserved to live, and was contemplating suicide. My parents began to get worried about me, and sent me to
see a specialist, who diagnosed me with depression, caused by Post-Abortion Syndrome. I have been meeting with
him weekly for about a year now. My depression has improved, but the pain and guilt of feeling that I deprived someone
of experiencing life will continue to haunt me.
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"A day in the life of a sixteen-year old Mom"
Molly's Story
It was six o'clock in the morning. I woke up as I
usually do, with my nine-month-old son, Hayden, as my alarm clock. I was really groggy this morning, as I had gone to
bed only a few hours earlier after studying for my biology final. I walked into my little boy's room and looked into
is precious eyes. It's moments like these that I live for every day. Every morning, Hayden and I have "mommy and
me time," where I feed him, read him a story, and get both us us ready for the day. We leave my house around 7:30, and I
take him to the school's nursery before beginning my school day.
When I found out I was pregnant, my mother wanted
me to put the baby up for adoption, but when I looked at that baby, after carrying him for nine months, I knew that I could
not possibly give him up. My parents and I were able to come to a compromise. I was allowed to keep Hayden, and
I would care for and support him, as long as I ended up in college. Eventually, they said that if I get a full scholarship,
they will give me some of the money that was in my college fund. Therefore, school must be my second priority.
The school day usually appears to go by fast, and a day
when I am not called to the nursery to tend to Hayden is always a good day. I would like for the school to see me as
a responsible mother, although I think that any hope of this happening dissapeared when I became pregnant in the ninth grade.
After school, I pick up Hayden and take him home to
my mother, where they will spend some time together while I go to work. After work, I play with Hayden for a little
while, and help Mom prepare dinner. I fead Hayden as I eat dinner with my parents. After dinner, I give Hayden
a bath, and let him play for a little while before bedtime. After Hayden is in bed, I study until I finally go to sleep.
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