Ms. Sarah (name changed) was a young woman who came from a rural town in New Mexico to my office in Albuquerque, New Mexico with a piece of paper in her hand.

I reviewed her blood tests as she told me her story. With a new diagnosis of leukemia and pregnancy, she was overwhelmed and her life was turned upside down.

After long discussions regarding her treatment plan with her oncologist, she decided to seek termination of pregnancy despite knowing that she wants to be a mother. She never thought she would be in this position. Her partner and her parents were in my office and we all discussed her pregnancy options.

Sarah was fortunate that she was insured through her parents’ medical plan. I was able to offer her a full spectrum of abortion services and did not have to counsel her with respect to her insurance coverage. She had access to a safe abortion so she could continue on with her medical treatment for her cancer that can be cured, but would have been devastating and detrimental to the pregnancy.