Letter to the editor: Abortion necessary part of reproductive health care

When I was planning for children, I didn't initially picture abortions being a part of my family-building story.

My partner and I were both older when we decided to have children, so my gynecologist shared the increased statistical possibilities of having genetic issues. When our firstborn was 4 years old, and I was in the 12th week of my second pregnancy — the earliest I could test for genetic abnormalities — I had an ultrasound that showed a genetic deformity. After having definitive genetic testing — chorionic villus sampling (CVS) — done in Kansas City, Missouri, I decided to have an abortion. After traveling back and forth from doctor appointments in different cities and waiting the 24-hour period, I was finally able to receive the care I needed.

Despite the false claims that abortions prevent future pregnancies, it was soon after the abortion that I became pregnant with our second child.

When we tried for a third child, a genetic test showed the baby would not survive. This was heartbreaking news, but at our age, the statistics were accurate that defects were more likely. My second abortion was recommended by a doctor, and I was able to receive care at the hospital — rather than an abortion clinic where picketed protestors lined the sidewalk, attempting to dissuade me from receiving the medical care I needed. This decision was between my doctors and my family — it was not for others to decide.

Abortion access is a part of the family-building process for many. To prevent serious health issues and help people have the children they've always dreamed of, abortion care is a necessary part of reproductive health care. We must protect access to reproductive freedom in our state, and I urge you to vote yes on Ballot Initiative 439 and no on Initiative 434.

Anne DeVries, Cortland