All booking requests for Ayana Elon should be emailed to booking@elonministries.org.

Read her story about her abortion experience below.

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My Abortion Story

Original Post Date: April 28, 2006

Hello,

My name is Ayana Elon. I founded Elon Ministries and the Yes 2 Life program is a part of this ministry. I sit here, not at a loss for words, but trying to figure out how to put my words together in a way that will help you better understand the reason behind what we're doing.

God spoke to me telling me it is time to give this part of my testimony. I mentally fought with Him for a couple of reasons. One being that I had already started on an autobiography and I wanted to tell my "whole" testimony all at once. I guess He had other plans. The other being that I knew I would be judged based on what I would have to say. I knew some people would not fully understand or be able to differentiate between the person I once was and the person I have become. Still, He told me it would be okay. And while I do still know that some people will only look at this the way they want to and also come to their own conclusions, I know that my story, my testimony, will help some teenage girl or woman who is thinking about having an abortion make a better decision.

This is my story...

It was about six years ago when I learned that I was pregnant with my fourth baby. I was in my early 20s and on birth control pills. This pregnancy was not like the others. I was only a few weeks along and every day I felt as though death had come over me. I literally threw up everything I ate and drank, including plain water. I could not do anything or go anywhere because I was always sick and miserable. On top of that I was scared...afraid for my life. My previous doctor and others had told me that I should not get pregnant because I had already had three c-sections and there was a chance that my uterus would rupture. I decided to do something that would change my life. I decided to have an abortion.

I explained to my mother about my situation and asked her if she could loan me the money to pay for the abortion, which was a few hundred dollars, because at that time I did not have it. She told me that she could not help me do anything like that, refused to give me the money, and basically told me to stick it out. I didn't have anyone else I could go to right away and didn't know what else to do.

Being Stupid

Shortly after, I called one of the local hospitals and asked them if I tried to perform the abortion myself, how long would it take for the ambulance to make it to my house. The woman on the other end of the phone begged me not to do that because there was no guarantee that I would receive help on time and could die. I decided I was going to try it anyway. (Got the idea from watching the movie 'If These Walls Could Talk')

I went into the bathroom, took a bath, and laid out something on the floor for me to lay on. I got a wire hanger, some towels, and some rubbing alcohol, laid on the floor, and attempted to kill my baby. As harsh at that may sound, there's no other way for me to put it because that's what I was trying to do.

I was not in there long before I realized that I could not do such a thing myself. I left out crying - mad because I tried to do that and hurt because I couldn't. I was filled with so many emotions at that time and really didn't have anyone to talk to...noone I could relate to.

I finally got the money from a relative, who will remain nameless, and made an appointment to have the abortion at a clinic about an hour and a half away because there was not one in my city. Everyday, up until the day it was time for me to have the abortion, I would lay in my bed, caressing my belly, talking to the baby I was carrying. I would apologize to it. I say "it" because I do not know if the baby was a boy or girl. I will never know.

About a week or so after making the appointment, I got on a greyhound bus and headed off. The first clinic I went to is in Bossier City, LA. The brick building was amongst others and there wasn't anything that brought attention to it. The entrance was in the back and was locked with a security camera facing the door. I rang the doorbell and was told I had to wait. I was a little early for my appointment. Once inside, I had to continue to wait because the doctor who was supposed to "counsel" me, was late. I was weighed and given some reading material. I watched other young girls come inside the building, some with parents and some alone.

Finally the doctor arrived. He arrived to meet a bunch of restless young women. When it was my time to talk with him, it really wasn't what I expected. I expected someone who seemed to be more caring. His attitude was pretty cold, asking basic questions like if someone was making me have the abortion and if I really wanted to do it. He never really "counseled" me. Never did he once try to talk me out of going through with "it". I was given an appointment to come back in two days and left.

[continue]

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