I was thrilled to be pregnant with my 2nd child. At 12 weeks, the ultrasound showed a neural tube defect. The skull had not closed- Encephalocele. The doctor gave me two gut-wrenching choices. I could end my pregnancy, or I could continue the pregnancy and hope there might be some possible brain activity if the child survived. I chose to have an abortion… to terminate for medical reasons. The baby was a much loved and wanted girl. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of her in some way. She would have been 5 this year and starting kindergarten had things gone as planned. But they didn’t, and that happens. I am thankful that I was able to terminate to save my daughter and family more pain than was necessary. Eliminating this option is barbaric and I will fight for abortion rights for my daughter that is alive and the one I said goodbye to way too early.