Abortion Diary Entry 160: Lisa, 48 (Michigan, 1986)

"We save lives." In this episode, Marva Sadler talks about her path to working in abortion care, what keeps her going to work every day, and reflects how her own abortion experience has shaped how she provides abortion care. Marva has worked with  for 13 years and in abortion healthcare for over 16 years. She was born in Detroit, and, since the age of three, raised and educated in Waco, Texas. Marva’s passion for women's reproductive healthcare began on her first day of work in abortion care in 2005, when she was greeted by two abortion protestors. She believes that these people simply can not win. They convinced Marva that she had to fight for the rights of women. As an abortion provider in Texas, Marva is proud to have been an active part of the continued fight against the State of Texas’ outrageous legislation and, currently, . Marva has also served on the Board of Directors.  Marva is married and is a mother of five sons, one daughter, and one puppy, Marley. This episode was made in collaboration with (ACN) and was recorded at their 2020 annual conference. ACN is a nonprofit membership organization for independent abortion clinics. Independent clinics — like Whole Women’s Health, where Marva Sadler works — provide the majority of abortion care in the U.S. ACN provides the staff of those clinics with support, training, and resources. (Published on November 8, 2021 | Interviewer: Melissa Madera | Location: Louisville, KY) The Abortion Diary is free, but it takes money to keep it that way. Help us continue our work and share our stories by .

“My ancestors are always with me.” In this episode, Oriaku Njoku talks about her path to becoming a reproductive justice leader, abortion advocate, and abortion funder in the Southeast. She shares her experience of doing this work as a Black Queer Femme in the South, and the importance of doing the work of abortion funding in and for community.  She also discusses why she always brings fun, love, and joy into the workplace every day, and what it means to create a cultural shift around abortion in the South. This episode was made in collaboration with the (ACN) and was recorded at their 2019 annual conference. ACN is a national association for independent community-based, abortion clinics and their allies. Abortion funds like , where Oriaku Njoku is the Co-Founder and Co-Director, supports people in accessing abortion care through funding, practical support, and advocacy.   Oriaku Njoku (she/they), is a first-generation, Black, Igbo, Nigerian-American, queer, fat, Southern femme living and loving in Atlanta, Georgia. As a Co-Founder and Co-Director of , she works at the intersection of abortion access and reproductive justice. She and her team at ARC-Southeast supports Southerners in navigating pathways to accessing safe, affordable, and compassionate abortion care through funding, logistics, and advocacy. Oriaku is deeply committed to finding joy and pleasure in everything she does and believes radical love is a core value that can be embodied and operationalized in movement spaces. She truly believes that we can and will create a cultural shift around how we address abortion in the South and invites you to join her in making reproductive justice a reality in our lifetimes.

"We care so much about our communities and the folks we serve." In this episode, Leah Coplon talks about her path to becoming an abortion care provider, how abortion fits into the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive health care, what it's really like in the clinic, and what it means to connect with other independent abortion care providers. This episode was made in collaboration with Abortion Care Network (ACN) and was recorded at their 2019 annual conference. ACN is a nonprofit membership organization for independent abortion clinics. Independent clinics — like Maine Family Planning, where Leah Coplon works — provide the majority of abortion care in the U.S. ACN provides the staff of those clinics with support, training, and resources.   Leah Coplon MPH, RN is the Program Director at Maine Family Planning, overseeing abortion care and strategizing for innovative ways of reaching rural patients to increase access to abortion, contraception, and transgender health services. Leah worked as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nursing at the University of New England. She has practiced full-scope midwifery, worked as a labor and delivery nurse, and has been in the field of reproductive health for over 25 years. Leah received a BA in sociology/anthropology from Carleton College and her BSN from the University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, she holds a Master of Science from Philadelphia University and a Master of Public Health from the University of New England and is board certified as a Nurse Midwife with the American College of Nurse Midwives.

“I want to fill that gap in our community.” In this episode, Dr. Nikia Grayson talks about her path to becoming a nurse-midwife, commitment to full spectrum reproductive heath care, and the importance of working in and with her community in Memphis, TN. This episode was made in collaboration with the Abortion Care Network (ACN) and was recorded at their 2019 annual conference. ACN is a national association for independent community-based, abortion clinics. Independent clinics like CHOICES, where Nikia Grayson is a nurse-midwife, care for the majority of people seeking abortion in the U.S. ACN provides the staff of those clinics with support, training, and resources. Nikia Grayson is a staff nurse-midwife at CHOICES Memphis Center for Reproductive Health. She has a deep commitment to providing compassionate, supportive, evidence-based holistic midwifery care to families in Memphis and continuing her career-long work in reproductive health, reproductive justice and birth justice. Nikia’s goal is to give her patients all the options available to them and empower them in their ability to make medical decisions for themselves and their families. (Published on May 6, 2019)  

“We still have to go overseas to make sure we can get our bodies back.” C.G.C. shares her story of traveling from Galway, Ireland to Manchester, England for an abortion when she was 16 years old.  .  It is estimated that every day an average of 10 women travel from Ireland to Britain for an abortion.   On May 25th, voters in Ireland will vote on repealing its constitutional ban on abortion (the Eighth Amendment). (Published on May 10, 2018 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Galway, Ireland) We share stories. Help us continue to break the silence by donating now. 

“I know I did the right thing.” Sue shares her story of seeking an illegal abortion in 1965, 8 years before that landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, which guarantees the right to safe and legal abortion in the United States. She also talks about her experiences in the Women’s Movement, founding a women’s theatre troupe (It’s All Right To Be Woman Theatre), and directing a documentary about , a progressive Republican NY Assemblywoman who wrote the legislation that decriminalized abortion in New York State in 1970. (Published on January 24, 2018 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Ithaca, NY) We share stories. Help us continue to break the silence by donating now. The Help us continue our work and share our abortion stories by donating now (bit.ly/292LsxI) or become our patron on Patreon (www.patreon.com/THEABORTIONDIARY).

"I don't really know how to deal with this.  I don't think anyone really does because no one ever talks about it." Hunt shares her experience seeking an abortion in Louisiana. She talks about being lied to at a Crisis Pregnancy Center (CPC), driving several hours to one of the few remaining abortion clinics in Louisiana, and the lack of affordable medical care in her community. She also shares her experience talking to some of her friends and family about her decision to get an abortion.  (Published on November 17, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Lafayette, LA) The Abortion Diary is free, but it takes money to keep it that way. Help us continue our work and share our abortion stories by donating now () or become our patron on Patreon ().

"I wish mothers told daughters." Christina, a single mother, shares her story of seeking an abortion in Alabama. (Published on October 2, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Tuscaloosa, AL) The Abortion Diary is free, but it takes money to keep it that way. Help us continue our work and share our abortion stories by donating now () or become our patron on Patreon ().

"We can be amazing supports for one another." Jael shares her experience of seeking an abortion in Montreal. (Published on September 8, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Ottawa, Canada) Are you a fan of the podcast? Help us continue our work and share our abortion stories by donating now () or become our patron on Patreon ().

“Hopefully, sharing my story and letting my daughter hear me speak about it somehow, someway might help her make different decisions.” Lisa shares her story of seeking an abortion as a freshman in college and also talks about her birth experiences in her thirties. She also discusses her abortion experience with her daughter on the podcast. (Published on August 15, 2017 | Listener: Melissa Madera | Location: Farmington Hills, MI) Are you a fan of the podcast? Help us continue our work and share our abortion stories by donating now (bit.ly/292LsxI) or become our patron on Patreon (www.patreon.com/THEABORTIONDIARY).