In light of the events that have caused a backlash on Planned Parenthood, I wanted to extend my full gratitude towards your organization for the amount of care and consideration they give to each of their patients. A lot of people don’t realize that Planned Parenthood is more than just the abortions they provide, but a monumental organization that aids in helping those receive affordable health care. Not only does Planned Parenthood provide services for those in need of them, but it also educates those who lack the knowledge of more paths they could follow. You can find more information here. Today, I'm talking on behalf of the 14-year-old who found herself in the same shoes nearly 700,000 women find themselves in every year.

I’ve heard a lot of people bash PP, saying they are rude, and don’t cover everything you should know about the care you receive. When the scared 14-year-old visited, this was not the case. The scariest parts of the process came before she even learned she’d be taken care of by you; When she cried on her best friend’s bathroom floor, when she told her mother who’s knuckles turned white against the steering wheel, when she learned she’d have to get rid of a part of herself; otherwise, he would threaten her, to punch her belly, or push her down the steps. You put her at ease. The only scary part about the whole experience were the protesters waiting outside your doors. Even then, it was hard to be scared when someone came from the building to walk her inside, and ultimately shielded her from the slurs that come their way.

She was asked so many questions that it started to get overwhelming, but there was always someone to talk to that would walk her through the questions, and make sure she was doing what she wanted to do, not what others were pressuring her to. The doctors that performed the procedure talked to her personally, and in great detail about everything that was going to happen, pushing her thoughts to the back of her mind. They warned her of the physical and mental pain she would suffer, and you provided all the counseling she would need, but despite your efforts, she would still hate herself for a few years before she came to accept what happened. In her junior year of high school, she would break down in the middle of class as they talked about Hills Like White Elephants, and when they talked about Sethe and how she killed her baby in Beloved. But that teacher would give her strength, and have so much understanding that he would let her stay after class to talk when she didn’t understand how she felt. And he would give her the courage to write and perform poetry about it, the courage to not be ashamed about what she had done to the cells growing inside of her. And despite having to fight herself every now and again when she thought she was wrong, she became brave, and every chance she got in the future, she would fight and defend her decision, and the decisions millions of others make every year when they enter your facilities.

Without the help received at one of your locations, she would not have been able to even think about beginning, or even applying for college. But she did, and she’s grown into a fighter, thanks to you.

I’m sure you’ve done the same thing for millions of other scared teenagers with nowhere else to go, and we are so incredibly thankful.

If you, or anyone you know is having trouble coping, or is in need of services, please visit https://www.plannedparenthood.org/ to find the center closest to you to get the help you deserve. You don't need to suffer alone.