Growing Up in North Dakota

My mom became pregnant with a fourth child when I was in the 4th grade and she became toxemic almost immediately. The doctors told her that her life would be shortened considerably if she were to carry the baby to term and recommended that she have an abortion. They would not, however, perform it. According to my Aunt Mary Claire, Mom did not want to have the abortion, but my dad, not wanting to lose her, felt that she should. Eventually they were able to find a doctor in Winnipeg, Manitoba who would perform the operation (I’m sure it is was what the anti-abortion people today call a “partial birth”

abortion). My parents didn’t tell us what the operation was then – my mom only told me about it when I was in high school. It was very, very difficult for her. Mary Claire told me that my mom sent some blue fabric to her that she’d planned to make maternity clothes with – Mary Claire instead made a dress for both Betsy and Janet with the material. The baby had been a girl. I guess my amma, my mom’s mom, had had an abortion too, according to Mary Claire. My amma was very weak with what we think was myasthenia gravis and when she went to the doctor at the beginning of what she thought was a pregnancy, the doctor aborted