Stories

Every month, women in difficult situations, often with nowhere else to turn, ask Trust Women Fund for help. These are some of their stories. (Note: names have been changed to protect confidentiality)

“I am 20. Yes, I could do this. But I don’t want kids. This is extremely hard with my family casting me out but this is my choice. My decision. I will carry this with me for the rest of my life…I deserve to be young still. Good Luck Ladies. This is your life!”

“Today will change how I think about a lot of things…Someday, I will be the mom I didn’t have.”

“I feel scared and irresponsible. But grateful for the help I’m about to receive. I hope that my children understand when the day comes and I tell them what I did. I have six children now and am 41-years old. The father is nothing to write home about. Bad choice but, as the gal said, our choices are our own and don’t you regret them. Live and grow from them.”

“I am sad today. This is something I never thought I would have to do. It feels surreal. I’m scared too.”

“I think how far we have come in this journey that I can sit here, with my daughter and she can have such an experience that does not involve shame and guilt from crossing the lines of protesters as I endured 25-years ago.”

“Thank you for a safe, loving, understanding place to go. I don’t want to have to do this ever again but I felt safe and cared for and understood for my decision.”

Angel was going to cancel her appointment (for the second time) because her boyfriend was going pay half the procedure with a post-dated check for but he lost his job and now can't write that check. She is 10 weeks pregnant. She has a 6-year old son and they are living with a friend. She works 22 hours a week as an exotic dancer. She started the paperwork for Medicaid but needs help until she is approved.

Mary was traveling with her boyfriend and her dog when he was hospitalized with pneumonia. They both have been looking for work and haven't found any jobs. She is getting food stamps and help from HRDC with low-income housing. Being sick stranded them here and now the dog has given birth to 11 puppies.

Jessica, age 21, is a daycare worker and single mom with a 3-year old. She bought a used car a couple of months ago, then her employer cut her hours and now she works only 1-2 days a week, bringing home about $500 a month. Her partner is no longer in her life, he moved and she doesn't know where he lives.

Sarah is a 29-year old woman with three boys, ages 8, 4, and 3. She is a full-time college student, living on financial aid and child support. The father is no longer in the picture. She has a degenerative back disease and has had several surgeries. She doesn't feel she could carry another baby because of back problems nor does she feel capable of taking care of another baby.

Kathleen is the mother of Jennie, a 16-year old runaway. Kathleen works as a waitress about 15 hours a week. Her husband is divorcing her. Kathleen is helping Jenny cope with her pregnancy and getting enrolled in an alternative high school. She doesn't have her half of the money but she's going to ask the father to help and borrow some.

Rachel is 45-years old and has two children, 10 and 18. She was in a long-term relationship that just ended when she found herself pregnant. She is self-employed as a home healthcare provider, waitressing and, next month, will begin working a seasonal job. She said this winter has been much harder to find work. Her annual income is about $13,000. She will be able to repay this loan with her income tax refund.