I went to a birthday party, it was like my first time going to a real party, I met a guy who was a lot older than me, at that time he was 23, we started dating a few days after the party, he was so sweet, he would always call me like a hundred times a day, gave me flowers, take me to dinner, all those things that can win over a girl’s heart and even more at 14 being so naive. I fell completely in love, one day he took me to a party, he offered me a tekila, which I rejected cuz of everything my mom used to tell me (and she was so right), he insisted, so I took a shot, he then offered me another shot, and another, and another,

Dear Becky and Lisa — This is a beautiful site for young girls who are pregnant, alone and scared. I am writing because I want to share my personal story with you and with the other girls that come here looking for help and guidance. Being a pregnant teen and scared isn’t easy, but it’s good knowing you are not alone is key in being able to make good decisions for yourself and your unborn baby.

I’m Danna, I’m 18 years old and I have a 3 and a half years old daughter, her name is Isabella. When I was 14, I went to a birthday party, it was like my first time going to a real party, I met a guy who was a lot older than me, at that time he was 23, we started dating a few days after the party, he was so sweet, he would always call me like a hundred times a day, gave me flowers, take me to dinner, all those things that can win over a girl’s heart and even more at 14 being so naive. I fell completely in love, one day he took me to a party, he offered me a tekila, which I rejected cuz of everything my mom used to tell me (and she was so right), he insisted, so I took a shot, he then offered me another shot, and another, and another, when I told him we had to leave cuz it was late and I tried to stand up, I was so dizzy and I couldn’t even move, I was so drunk, he helped me and he was supposed to drive me home but he didn’t, he took me into his apartment and the rest is history, I’m gonna be really honest with you, I can’t even remember what happened that day, I just woke up the next morning with a very bad headache, so I stayed in bed the whole day, at night, I called him, he didn’t answer my call, the days went by, he never called me again and I was so sad, I didn’t know what was happening or why he wouldn’t answer my calls.

3 weeks later I started waking up and having nauseas, one day at school I felt really dizzy, I almost faint, since then I started feeling horrible in the morning and at night, my mom was so worried that she wanted me to have a ‘conversation’ with me, she went straight to the point and ask if I’ve had been with a boy sexually speaking, I said of course not, she said she believed me but that she had bought something for me, and I was like “ok sure”, it was a pregnancy test, I did the test cuz I didn’t know what happened that night, I knew my boyfriend loved me so much that he’d never do something like that to me, so I wasn’t afraid or something to take the test, and obviously I wasn’t thinking on being pregnant. The big surprise was that the test came out to be possitive, I was pregnant. I was so shocked, I couldn’t even speak, my mother started to cry, I try to explain her but she didn’t let me, she told my father the same night, he yelled at me and said horrible things about me. I went to my boyfriend’s apartment and asked him why he wasn’t returning my calls, I also asking him to explain to me what happened the other night cuz I told him what was happening, when he found out that I was pregnant he broke up with me, he said the baby wasn’t his, he even kicked me out of his house and called me a sl*t. I was devastated, I couldn’t believe it.

The next morning when I woke up, my parents had packed up a bag with all my my clothes, shoes, everything. I didn’t know what they were going to do, I was really scared, I couldn’t stop crying. They said, “It’s your choice, you see, you’re 14 years old and definitively not prepared for a baby, now, you can choose between keeping the baby or moving out of here” I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing from my own parents, from the people who brought me into this world. I chose an abortion, not cuz I wanted but I didn’t have no choice actually, I didn’t have a job or money, I didn’t have anywhere to go, I was actually at my parents’ mercy. They took me into a hospital to be a 100% sure of my pregnancy and when they were completely sure, we went into a clinic to get the abortion done, I cried all the way into the clinic and when we arrived there, the nurse said I could always say no to the procedure if I wasn’t sure that I wanted to get an abortion, I told my parents I would’ve never expected from them to say I should kill my unborn baby so I left the clinic, I went to my best friend’s home to talk about what was happening and she said I couldn’t stay there, that her mother wouldn’t allow it for obvious reasons.

I didn’t know what to do, I felt so lost and lonely but I called my older sister she was 21 at the time and she moved out from home since she was 18, she told me she would me pick me up at my parents’ house, so I just took some clothes, shoes and stuff like that, she told me she didn’t have enough money to support me and obviously she didn’t have any money to raise a child but she said she could help me find a job, and she did, since I wasn’t going to school anymore, I was working full time, so I earned some cash, I helped my sister with food, with the phone bill and stuff like that, my parents were mad, and have stay that way with my sister and me and they have never spoken to us ever since.

I gave birth on May 27th, 2002 to a beautiful, healthy baby girl. Her father doesn’t even know her, I think she’s more than he deserves. My sister tried to support me in all the ways she could and I’m so thankful cuz of that, I don’t know where I would be without her, I love her so much. She’s been married for over a year now, she gave me her apartment when she moved to her new home with her husband. I’m still working full time, my sister comes and helps me take care of Isabella while I’m working, and I don’t care how hard I have to work to give my baby a life that she deserves, I’m trying to give her everything cuz she deserves the entire world. Now that my daughter will begin pre-school soon I’m planning to finish high school, and hopefully I will able to do it. So my advice is no matter how hard your life gets, it always turns out to be better if you just think clearly, work hard and remain calm, so if you’re consider gettin’ an abortion, please think about it again, remember I chose life for my baby and I don’t regret it at all, I went through a lot of things but at the end, I made it and here I am with my daughter and everytime I see her I thank God for having her.

Thanks so much again for having this wonderful site, and for helping young girls to face an unexpected pregnancy. I hope if they read my story, it can help girls realize you are never alone and that your baby deserves a chance to come into the world.

Danna 

Dearest Danna  — hello!

Wow! What a wonderful life story you have Danna and you are such a wonderful Stand Up Girl!

Isn’t it amazing at how wonderful you can feel when you look into the eyes of your precious little girl?

I am so so sorry that your parents have distanced themselves from you and your daughter. They really are missing out on so so much!

And I do have to say that your sister is a wonderful Stand Up Girl too! I bet your little Isabella is a beautiful little girl!

Thank you so very much for sharing your wonderful story for choosing life!
It really made my day!

Luv Lisa