I became pregnant in 1964 to the love of my life. We attended different colleges so it was easy to keep it from him. In those days, the honorable thing was for the man to offer marriage so the child would be legitimate and the mother could keep her dignity. I didn't want to tell my boyfriend because I wanted him to finish school and go on to medical school.
Check the date again - 1964 - as in pre-Roe v Wade. The cost for the illegal abortion was $250 which in those days was alot of money. Would you believe I went to an old boyfriend and borrowed the cash from him no questions asked?
This 'doctor' was a chiropracter who did abortions on the side. He examined me first to make sure I was pregnant and he was very rough in the process. As he gathered the instruments, I noticed that he just pulled them out of drawers - I didn't see any antiseptic soaking trays anywhere. When I asked him about it, he asked back did I want the abortion or not.
I decided not to go through with it because I was afraid he would hurt me. Two weeks later, nature took care of the problem with a miscarriage. My love went on to Medical school in another state and we gradually drifted apart.
I married and gave birth to three wonderful children, two of whom are adult women and are active NARAL members in other states.
Abortion will not go away because of laws against it. What will happen instead are more maternal injuries and deaths due to unskilled practioners. We are rapidly returning to a patriarchal society governed by the church and must do everything we can to stop it.
-Mimi M. Mauro
