By DIANE DENISH
Corner to Corner
© 2024 New Mexico News Services

On August 8 in a press conference, Donald Trump said he believed abortion has become “much less of an issue” and that it would be a “very small issue” in the general election. He is wrong.

Just a reminder: Donald Trump appointed justices committed to ending a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions. He is proud of getting Roe v. Wade overturned. As a result, almost half the states now either ban or severely restrict women’s right to abortion and reproductive care.

Trump has forgotten about the women of my generation who were of childbearing age before Roe v. Wade. I can assure you we haven’t forgotten what that time was like.

We all know someone who found a way to get an illegal abortion or tried self-inducement by using instruments, poisons or taking medications. Some women tried throwing themselves down stairs or crashing cars into walls to generate a miscarriage. Others found providers willing to skirt the law or, like me, travelled to another country.

In 1969 I was in love, engaged, and pregnant. My fiancé and I were still at UNM and needed to complete our degrees. We planned to marry but didn’t believe we were ready to be parents. Here is our story:

Neither of us told our parents. Our families were prominent in our communities and although I was certain mine would help me, I agonized over telling them. I knew they would be disappointed. Remember, in 1969 an unmarried, pregnant daughter was still an embarrassment.

At that time there was a vibrant information network on college campuses informing students on how to get an abortion. Travelling to Mexico was one option – the one we chose – although abortion was illegal there as well.

We gathered up enough money from our college allowances and a loving grandmother who asked no questions. The procedure was $300 in American dollars along with travel expenses.

We flew to Mexico City early one day. That evening, following the instructions of the clinic, I was picked up from a low-end Mexican hotel by a driver who drove me in the dark of night to a clinic. I was relieved to find it was immaculately clean and safe. I was surrounded by women from the United States.

I was in initial stages of pregnancy (although beyond the restrictive six weeks’ time of today’s draconian laws). The doctor was a professional, the procedure went well, and I was on my way home to the U. S. in about 36 hours. This, only after we were hustled out of the clinic earlier than expected when word came that there was about to be a raid.

I know I should have been terrified. My fiancé told me later he was terrified as he watched me drive off into the night wondering if I would ever come back. I was so desperate not to be pregnant at that stage of my life I set fear aside.

Pre-Roe 20% to 25% of unwanted pregnancies ended in abortion despite the law. Women found a way to control their own destiny. I did too.

My story is quite different from today’s stories. I know I was lucky. I had a guardian angel as well as a resolute partner. There were no complications. I went on to have a family and three planned pregnancies.

Later as an adult I never summoned the courage to tell either of my parents before they died. However, I did gather the will to tell my daughters and my two older  granddaughters. I wanted them to know that abortion is not just a news story, it’s a life story spanning generations of women – including someone they love.