Age: 24
Oshawa, ON
"I was 22 at the time , in nursing school and living with my parents. Part time job that paid well and time on my hands and friends that knew how to have a good time.
I met a guy - whom was rather charming. Five weeks later I found out I was pregnant. We were in no committed relationship - I barely knew him. I conceived three weeks after meeting him for the first time.
When I read the positive pregnancy test I couldn't even comprehend... Drank a litre of water and took another. Positive it said. Clear as day. I broke down crying. I had everything I wanted in life- this was going to ruin me I thought. My mom is going to absolutely kill me. I immediately texted this guy and told him. His only option was abortion. No way. Not an option for me. He found some stupid information on the internet saying a pill would fix everything. We could be free again- said he'd be there for me the whole way. When it finally settled into him that an abortion wasn't in my cards (how could I kill a baby that did nothing wrong because of my careless actions?) he flipped out, saying I planned this and I tricked him. Completely absurd! I invited him to every appointment , attempted to meet up with him multiple times and nothing (this was 2.5 years ago and I've still never seen him since two days before I found out I was pregnant).
So I was going to be a single mom. Crazy. Interesting. Not what I had planned. Then my gender ultrasound came up and my baby had markers for Down Syndrome and Trisomy 18. I was sent to a geneticist who gave me all my options. "Abortion is legal up until 26 weeks here" she said. I could already feel my daughter kicking, how could this be legal? My mother cried begging me that if tests came back positive for me to abort. I just couldn't fathom that. The baby should have a fair shot at life I thought. Around the 26-week mark my results came back negative to a relief of everybody around me - I was going to have a healthy baby girl. I was 22 when I gave birth .
23 hours of long hard stressful labour. I'm lucky to have an amazing family who helps whenever I need them. I finished nursing school one semester behind my class and am currently taking a post-grad certificate program. My daughter is almost two and I couldn't imagine life without her. Abortion is never the answer. I'm not religious- but I believe we are dealt only the hands of which we can handle. Believe in yourself and work hard. Along the way I've lost some friends, I've made new ones, I've kept most and they love my daughter. My child is the reason and motivation for me to do better in life." -Anonymous