OXFORD, Mich. (WXYZ) — The Supreme Court's ruling on Roe v Wade has some women coming forward and sharing their experiences with abortion.
Oxford mom Nikki Stevens says it was a hard decision, but ultimately one that changed her life for the better. She says women deserve control over their bodies although pro-life groups argue abortion takes away rights from the unborn baby.
"We need to uphold human right's in Michigan and that includes the unborn," said Anna Visser, Director of communications for Right to Life Michigan.
Stevens says she doesn't regret her decision and she says it allowed her to raise a family in a loving environment.
"Being a mom is everything I ever wanted my whole entire life," said Stevens.
Her journey as a mother almost started at 17, but she decided to terminate the pregnancy at 12 weeks.
"The second that I found out I was pregnant, I knew in my heart that that was not the way I wanted to raise my child," Stevens said. "Because I was a young teenager, I wasn't married, and I wasn't even in a relationship at that point."
Stevens wanted time to grow up and to meet a supportive partner.
She says the process was emotional, mostly chalking it up to pregnancy hormones.
"The stigma around it is more traumatic than the process itself," said Stevens.
Fast forward 11 years and Stevens found herself considering abortion again.
This time because her unborn child wasn't healthy.
Doctors said the baby had a bad heart and wasn't developing hands and feet. The condition is known as Epstein's Anamoly. If she followed through with the pregnancy the baby would have to be rushed into surgery immediately.
Steven's said there was a chance the baby wouldn't survive birth.
"The doctors had told me at that point that the longest life that child—a child with that condition had after all these surgeries—was two years," Stevens recalled.
She said she had to consider that baby's chance of survival and the impact it could have on her existing children.
"It broke my heart to make that decision," Stevens said.
She stands here today grateful she had the right to make it without judgment or interference.
"I had that and for women who don't have that, it's not fair," Stevens said.
Anna Visser says despite the possibility of suffering, all unborn babies deserve a chance.
"They have value and they have a purpose in this life, even if it's only for two years," said Visser.
Abortion has many faces, both Visser and Stevens agree the issue isn't black and white.
While Visser sees the reversal of Roe v Wade as a win, Stevens fears for the future.
"Even though I am not going to have any more children myself, it upsets me for my daughters," said Stevens.
State data shows that 67.5% of women in Michigan who received an abortion last year, had at least one previous full-term pregnancy.
A temporary injunction is currently keeping abortion legal in Michigan.
"We are still cautious about the future of Michigan," Visser said. "There are a lot of moving parts right now and lot of things we still have to fight against."
