My boyfriend and I had an agreement: If we got pregnant again, I would have an abortion.
I had just started a new job, and we didn’t think we could handle a second child financially. But above all, I was afraid of all the ways my life would change. And I couldn’t think of any positive changes. Then, in December 2023, we found out that I was pregnant.
A couple of days later, I got online and ordered abortion drugs. I thought it would be easier this way and that all our problems would disappear, but I was still uncomfortable with the thought of having an abortion. I talked myself into it, but after taking the first pill, I immediately regretted my decision. It was the worst decision I ever made.
Panicked, I searched online for a way to save my baby. I found the Abortion Pill Rescue Network, and they connected me with a nurse practitioner in my area who offered abortion pill reversal. The nurse, Chelsea Mynyk, explained to me that, because the first abortion drug deprives the growing baby of progesterone (a naturally occurring hormone in women that supports the pregnancy), progesterone supplements are then used to reverse the effects of the abortion drug and can possibly save the baby’s life. That’s all APR is — progesterone.
Chelsea was honest with me about the process; there was only a chance that my baby could be saved. She prescribed progesterone for me, and I continued to see her for several weeks afterward to monitor my pregnancy and ensure that my baby grew normally. Just five months ago, I gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby girl. My boyfriend and I are completely in love with her.
I thank God for giving her a second chance at life and for placing Chelsea in our lives, especially because my state, Colorado, has banned the practice of APR. While progesterone can be used legally to prevent miscarriage and forestall preterm labor, Colorado is discriminating against one group of women — those who want to save their baby after taking the first chemical abortion drug — preventing them from accessing this life-saving treatment.
Shortly after I began my APR treatment, I found out that a third party had filed a complaint against Chelsea because she offered APR to me. The Colorado Board of Nursing opened an unjust and unlawful investigation against her. To clarify, this investigation was opened because Chelsea saved a life, which is exactly what medical professionals are supposed to do. While I faced difficulties with preparing for my second child financially, professionally, and emotionally, this complaint was by far the most stressful part of my pregnancy.
Thankfully, Chelsea’s lawyers with Alliance Defending Freedom secured an injunction from a Colorado court, allowing her to continue offering APR while her case moves forward. But those who are not protected by a court injunction risk losing their licenses and face fines of up to $20,000 per violation.
Unfortunately, Colorado isn’t the only state attacking APR. California and New York sued pregnancy centers and pro-life organizations for speaking about and publishing information on the protocol. Washington and New Jersey opened unlawful and invasive investigations against pregnancy centers, in part because they have made truthful statements about APR. This seems to be a coordinated effort among government officials to target a safe and effective treatment that may have saved thousands of lives across the country.
Statistics suggest APR has a 64%-68% success rate if the treatment begins within 72 hours of taking the first abortion drug. Compare that with the less than 25% rate of continued pregnancy if a woman discontinues her use of the abortion drugs without the APR protocol. But no one will have access to this protocol if state officials are allowed to take this option away from women.
If government officials were truly pro-choice, they would allow women to make the choice to save their babies. Instead, they are trying to force women to continue having abortions they don’t want. Every woman should have the opportunity to access the health care they need — real healthcare that saves lives.
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There are other women like me out there who immediately regret their decision to have an abortion and want a chance to save their babies. I was one of the lucky ones, but if these government officials have their way, more mothers will lose out on this incredible opportunity — and more babies will lose their lives.
As the annual March for Life took place on Friday, I was grateful for Chelsea and others like her who truly want to help women. Medical professionals should do what Chelsea does: save lives. And the government shouldn’t stop them.
Mackenna Greene is a mother of two who resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
This article was originally published at www.washingtonexaminer.com
