Texas Democratic Senator, Wendy Davis, Reveals She Had Two Abortions In Autobiographic Memoir

Texas Democratic Senator, Wendy Davis made headlines last year after her efforts to obstruct a legislation project to restrict abortion by Republican Attorney, General Greg Abbott in her state. Davis is now campaigning as a gubernatorial candidate with most odds against her as Texans have not elected a Democrat as governor in 20 years. Her confessions are unlikely to hurt her candidacy as abortion opponents were already inclined to vote for her opponents. Her autobiographic memoir titled, “In Forgetting to be Afraid” narrates the detail of her pregnancy interruption, 17 years ago, when she and her then-husband, Jeff, found out their fetus suffered an acute brain abnormality that could leave the baby blind, deaf and in a permanent vegetative state if she survived delivery. The couple had named their unborn daughter Tate Elise.

The fact that Davis remains an avid women’s reproduction rights advocate doesn’t mean she didn’t endure this episode as an extremely difficult one. “An indescribable blackness followed. It was a deep, dark despair and grief, a heavy wave that crushed me, that made me wonder if I would ever surface. And when I finally did come through it, I emerged a different person. Changed. Forever changed.” Later on, the senator talks about a second abortion she had to undergo as the egg had been fertilized inside her Fallopian tube, putting her health at great risk. While the loss also “broke her heart,” she continues to emphasize on her unborn daughter, Tate’s memories.

“Throughout her career, Wendy has fought for the rights of women and families with the same unbreakable courage she stands with today, as she decided to share her extremely personal decision to have an abortion,” said Cecile Richards, daughter of former Texas Governor, Ann Richards and president of the “Planned Parenthood Votes” organization.