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Dale
Ontario,
Canada
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My name is Dale Barr and I’m from Cornwall, Ontario.
35 ½ years ago, on a cold November day in 1979, I signed a consent to have an abortion. I was 16 years old. I remember only bits and pieces of that whole experience. The majority of my memories have been completely repressed.
Becoming a nurse and having so many unanswered questions were factors that led me to request a copy of my hospital record of the abortion procedure. I have a deep desire to know the truth, and I believe when it is revealed, I will understand who I truly am and be totally set free.
A heavy price was paid after the abortion - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. For 10 years, I was in denial and worked hard at keeping the abortion a secret. I went from straight “A” s in grade 11, to barely passing in grade 12. I struggled through college.
Dependence on drugs and alcohol and promiscuity became a way of life. I stopped going to church. Memories of the abortion were triggered, while attempting to conceive after I was married at 25. I miscarried 5 times and thought I was being punished by God.
Having the abortion affected my whole family. There were so many contributors to that tragic event, including myself and none of us have ever really talked about it. I thank God for the courage he has given me to speak the truth about abortion, so I can do my part in stopping history from repeating itself.
I have attained healing through the Church, Rachel’s Vineyard, and the Silent No More Awareness Campaign. God has been merciful and forgiving to me and has blessed me with an amazing husband and 4 beautiful children.
Experiencing God’s mercy has allowed me to be merciful toward others, including those who hurt me during my abortion experience. As a hospice nurse, I was recently faced with the task of caring for one of the nurses who had attended to me during my abortion. From what I recall, she hadn’t dealt kindly with me. She was admitted to the hospice, extremely agitated and close to death. As soon as I heard her name, I knew who she was because I remembered seeing her signature several times on my hospital record I had attained. My whole body went into fight or flight mode. I had a choice to make: I could care for her, exhibiting minimal standards for my profession or I could care for her with deep kindness and compassion. I chose the latter because the Lord had already shown me the same. In the end, she experienced a dignified and peaceful death.
My name is Dale Barr and I regret my abortion and I will forever be SILENT NO MORE!
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Silent No More Awareness Campaign: Reach Out - Educate - Share
www.silentnomoreawareness.org |
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