I began my non-profit career at Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York, and it was some of the most meaningful, important work I have done. The shame that is forced upon us around miscarriage and abortion care is a heavy burden to bear alone and can delay the healing process.

I only publicly shared a few years ago that I experienced a miscarriage in my 20s and I feel it changed the entire trajectory of my life. I felt guilt and shame for many years which only caused me to internalize miscarriage as a personal failure. It is not.

If you are in need of miscarriage or pre / post-abortion support, there are also many resources available at no charge. I highly recommend Exhale hotline as they provide non-judgmental support without any connection to a church or religious lens.