A True Story about Abortion Regret

When it comes to abortion regret, we typically think of the mother who aborted her child and later regretted her choice. However, so many more people are affected by an abortion: the father of the child, the mother and father’s families, friends, etc. This is the story of a girl who thought she was helping to save her friend’s life – only to realize that she would lose something within herself and this decision would affect her own life for years to follow. 

Sarah* (name changed to protect identity) feels deep regret for a decision she made nearly thirty years ago. She was twenty years old when her best friend asked her to drive her to an abortion clinic outside of town. This was not the first person Sarah knew to have an abortion. In fact, this same friend had previously had an abortion when she was in high school. 

At first, Sarah said no. The baby’s dad didn’t even know about his/her existence. The friend just didn’t want to be pregnant. She refused to tell her parents, who were loving Christian people. Sarah believes they would have accepted their daughter’s pregnancy and helped her and their unborn grandchild. The outcome may have been completely different if she had just told them.  

Sarah’s friend asked multiple people to drive her to Planned Parenthood. All turned her down until finally, she threatened to take her own life if she did not have an abortion. Feeling as though she had no other option, Sarah finally agreed to drive her. 

When they arrived at the clinic, Sarah couldn’t believe what she saw. Staff walked around talking and joking as if they were not dealing with life and death in their clinic. One man dropped his girlfriend off and then drove away. Another girl who appeared to be fourteen years old sat with her dad in the waiting area and cried the entire time she was there. 

When it was time to go back for a consultation, Sarah accompanied her friend. The staff member who spoke with them told them all about the good their clinic was doing and gave them statistics to prove they were “helping” people. Sarah felt disgusted, yet she didn’t know what she could do. Back in the waiting room, she found a pro-life brochure in the chair beside her, and she felt comforted to know there were people out there who did care about women and the babies they carried.  

Several women were called back to have their abortions at the same time. Sarah learned that her friend saw an ultrasound image of her preborn baby before the abortion occurred. Her friend admitted that this was hard to witness, but she had the abortion anyway. 

When she returned to the waiting room, she was laughing as if she had no regard for the innocent life that had just been taken. The fourteen-year-old girl Sarah had seen in the waiting room previously had to be carried out of the building by her father. 

There were no Planned Parenthood workers present to ensure this child’s safety. No one was there to ensure the women felt stable enough to walk out of the building. No one ensured they were free of abortion complications before they left. There was no help for these hurting women, yet this was called healthcare.  

Sarah felt so angry. As she drove home, she felt such sadness for what had just occurred. She had not taken the life of her own child, yet she had aided a friend in getting to her own abortion. She felt such regret and wished she had been able to prevent her friend from having the abortion. When she got home, Sarah told her mom what had happened. She checked on her friend the next day, and as time went on, their friendship faded.  

Later, Sarah found out that her own mother had had an abortion after she, Sarah, was born. Her parents did not have much money, and they believed they had to take care of the child they already had. When her mom’s friend drove her to Planned Parenthood, she thought she would receive counseling, but she instead received an abortion. To this day, she regrets her choice. 

We don’t always know what drives women to believe that abortion is their only option. It may be a lack of money, resources, or support. What we do know is that abortion leaves a lasting impact on those affected by it. Sarah continues to struggle with the guilt she feels for driving her friend to the abortion clinic, and she wants others to know about the impact of this choice before they do something they regret. 

There are life-giving options available for women and girls who think they have no way out of a crisis pregnancy. Resources like the Go Mobile Clinic provide resources, guidance, and hope. 

Our God is a God of forgiveness and second chances. He will heal us of our wounds and offer us a new life in Him.  

If you know anyone who suffers from the effects of abortion, share the saving power of His love.  

And if you know anyone in a crisis pregnancy, let them know they’re not alone. There IS help available.