From a very young age I remember in 6th grade
being taught in sex education that an abortion is just a woman's choice and
that's it, that's the only thing they teach you
it's not a baby it's part of the woman's body
and she gets to decide whether it lives or dies.
I grew up in Springfield Massachusetts in
a very Catholic and supportive family.
My husband ,Gerry , and I have five children.
Veronica is the youngest and
I always told her I know God has great plans for you.
I had always told her that.
In high school and even junior high
she had lots of struggles with anxiety and depression
and problems in school.
I would just not want to get out of bed
I had no motivation to do schoolwork
or be around family or friends.
I kind of secluded myself in my room.
It was Christmas Day of 2018
I was 16 years old, my boyfriend was 18 at the time.
We had been dating for about 4 months.
I felt that something was off with me
so I looked up some symptoms online and
it was matching up with pregnancy.
I went to the store to get the pregnancy tests, went home I took one
and almost immediately the second line came up
which means that you're pregnant.
I was just in disbelief at first
I was like, no way I'm not pregnant, not me.
A couple hours later, I took another one and also was positive.
I have a very close relationship with my mother so I decided to tell her first.
I went up to her and I showed her the tests
and she had already had a feeling that I was pregnant
because I was acting differently than I usually do
I was a little bit shocked but I knew that I would support her.
We definitely have always been pro-life and
I knew without a doubt I would never want Veronica to have an abortion.
My boyfriend told me he wanted me to have an abortion.
His first reaction was just that he was very afraid.
I understood where he was coming from because I was afraid as well.
I knew that he wanted me to have an abortion and
I felt pressured to do so just because I didn't want to ruin his life
or alter his life and a big way when it's not something that he wanted.
I actually went down to Planned Parenthood.
I was put in a room with this woman and
instead of her talking to me about my options or resources or different ways I could get help
it felt like she was a salesperson and she was trying to sell me on abortion.
That just didn't sit right with me
and I knew that that wasn't the place I needed to be
and that's when I went home and did my own research.
I searched on YouTube what is an abortion and
I came across live actions video where the doctor describes in detail
at each stage of pregnancy how the baby is killed
I just felt so upset and sad after I saw that video
I just cried I knew if I hadn't found that video
that might have been my son who was being described in the abortion procedures
and I might have gone through with something without knowing what I was truly doing
I knew that he was a person and that he was alive and that
killing him at any stage of life would be wrong.
The truth is powerful and I'm so glad she came across that.
My boyfriend saw that video also and it moved us both and we knew that we couldn't do that.
My baby was over nine pounds so I had to have a c-section.
They brought me in and it was about a thirty minute process.
The moment I heard him cry
I was just like I couldn't believe it and I was so emotional
because it felt like it was a blessing that he was there and
I could have almost taken his life away and
I was just so so happy to hear his voice.
That's a moment I'll never forget
and I just feel blessed to be his mom.
I think a lot of women do choose abortion because
they're afraid of the lack of support and also I think
they're just uneducated and not completely aware of what they're doing.
Your pregnancy isn't just a blob of cells it is a human being
and it deserves to live.
Don't be afraid there are so many resources out there that can help you if you are pregnant.
I had my boyfriend there with me
he's been a great dad he's really stepped up.
I have been helped by people who I didn't even know existed
I'm really thankful that I found that video and that I found the resources I did
and I have my son he really saved my life.