Once again, women must fight for rights

I am a retired registered nurse presently enjoying my life in Marin with my wife of 38 years.

When I was in my mid-20s, I was pregnant and did not want to carry out the pregnancy. Any woman who has had an abortion knows the difficult feelings around carrying an unwanted pregnancy. I was desperate. Unfortunately for me, this happened before Roe v. Wade was passed in early 1973, so there were no safe avenues for abortions.

I ended up traveling from Detroit to Ohio for the abortion. The procedure was not successful the first time, so it was repeated the following week. That led to septicemia (a blood infection) and a trip to the emergency room. I nearly died.

Now, 50 years later, it seems experiences like mine could return in the future. We cannot return to back-alley abortions that go wrong and kill women. We can't let this happen to women that live in the “wrong” state. No doubt, some critics will turn their heads and say she should have used protection or never have gotten that far.

Are conservatives on the Supreme Court really going to control what I can do with my body? No, not after I have experienced freedom of choice. We need to fight for our rights again and again. And now is the time.

Let's use our money and protest. Let's set up underground traveling systems to help women get from one state where abortions are illegal to where they are legal. It means so much work for the younger generation. But, yes, if Roe v. Wade is overturned, we will still prevail. Let's organize and fight.

— K. McMudie, Novato