Theresa’s Story

When I found and I was pregnant I was in a really bad situation. I didn’t have a house, a job, I couldn’t support myself. I wanted the pregnancy at first, but when I thought of all these I said no, I can’t.  So I went to a private abortion clinic, because I was afraid to go to NHS for an abortion. Somebody directed me to a private Marie Stopes abortion clinic in Brixton. I did not want to go to the NHS for an abortion because I was worried they would ask for my papers.

When I was at the clinic I was very upset. Outside the clinic I met somebody that she asked me why I was crying. I  told her my story and she told me not to worry; that there was no need for me to cry. She told me about the organisation she worked for, called the Good  Counsel, and said that they could support me.

Before that  I was thinking ‘How can I have the baby when I don’t have a house of my own?’ I was staying with a friend back then.

I was not working, so the pressure was coming from my circumstances. I was thinking ‘How am I going to survive? I can hardly support myself so how am I going to cope with a baby?’ That’s why I was thinking that I just had to go and abort the baby.

At the clinic they didn’t ask why I was having an abortion. They didn’t ask if I was under pressure and so on. As I did not have papers, they certainly wouldn’t have been able to offer accommodation and financial help.

I called the Good Counsel Network and then went to their help centre. At the centre they encouraged me a lot. They said that they were going to help and just talked with me. They asked me why I wanted to abort the baby and I told them about my conditions; that I didn’t have a house, I didn’t have work, that I couldn’t cope.

They offered me accommodation, and they were really supportive. They started giving me food vouchers and money for the baby. Almost all the baby’s clothes and what I’m using for my baby they gave it to me. I don’t know where I would be if they weren’t there. I do wonder where I would be. They were so helpful.

It would have been a different story if I hadn’t met the woman from Good Counsel. Because I was just looking for every means to abort the baby. She encouraged me.

She also really helped when she said that all I needed was somewhere to put my head:  accommodation to stay in and and a little to support myself.

Trying to ban people from giving support, it’s not good because I have been in that situation and I know how it is. There are so many people out there who don’t really want to do the abortion but just because of conditions or circumstances they do so.

Stopping people from offering support is not a good idea. I really don’t know what I would have done if I had not met the lady at the clinic. I don’t know where I would be now.

I’m happy that I had him and I’m so happy with what the Good Counsel have been doing for me.

Note: This testimony uses a pseudonym to preserve the identity of the woman involved.