My Name Is Mom

By Anna Chambers

This book is a series of letters to the children I aborted when I was seventeen. These letters detail the events just prior to becoming pregnant by rape and the horrendous events that unfolded as a result of my decision to abort. The letters begin with my addressing them as blobs because that is how the professionals referred to them at the time. They evolve into my understanding the reasons why I was depressed, suicidal, involved in an abusive relationship, and estranged from my life. With the love and grace that I found in my Savior, Jesus Christ, I was able to look at the abortions honestly and come to terms with the fact that they were not blobs at all, but instead my precious children. This truth brought healing and hope in the light of Gods loving kindness.

Endorsement

A cant-put-down page-turner! In letters of confession to her unborn babies, the author logs her maternal journey through rebellion and tragedies. Once God renders her darkest moments, transforming them by His sons light, she uses her story as invitations to others to come taste and see His life-changing grace.
Nita Weis, PhD, psychologist and author

At the age of 15, state laws allowed me to make the decision to take an innocent life. Pain, isolation and self-destructive behaviors shadowed my life after that. Reading Annas story revealed the guilt behind the patterns in my own life as I struggled to believe the lie that the life of an unborn child holds no true value. I punished myself because somehow I knew the truth it does. My Name Is Mom shares Gods message of love and redemption that needs to be heard by every young girl and woman suffering from the trauma of abortion.
Lea Anderson Age 42

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490836898

Anna Chambers

Anna and her husband, Joseph, have enjoyed serving together on staff at a church in Southern California since 1998. She is involved in lay counseling women of all ages. Anna is a keynote speaker at women’s retreats and has taught women’s Bible study since 1987. Anna has openly shared her personal testimony about the effects of post-abortion trauma in her own life to countless women’s groups; she has also been asked to speak before legislature. Her passion is to see people’s lives restored by God’s gracious love. Anna and Joseph have sheltered abused women and their children in their home. They have raised four children of their own and are now enjoying the blessings of grandchildren.

Book preview

Letter #2

Dear Blob,

It was hard to sleep last night as the events that took place after I returned home from Lake Tahoe swirled around and round in my mind. I remember waking up every morning feeling as though I had the stomach flu. When it didn’t go away, I was terrified that I could be pregnant. Believing that I could not go to my mom or dad, I decided to confide in an older woman named Christine. I felt very close to her. She was the cool mom that allowed all the high school kids to party at her house. She provided us with a stocked bar and cigarettes. What I really loved about her was the fact that she was always willing to listen to me. I remember sitting in her home telling her of my fear about being pregnant. She immediately assured me there was a simple solution. That was the day you and I were first introduced. I was so relieved at the time to learn that you were nothing but a blob of tissue, and that to remove you from my body would be like removing a small cyst. Christine and I plotted and schemed about how we solve this without my parents finding out. One of my girlfriends, who had had her blobs removed, said there was nothing to it. She gave me a phone number of a clinic and I called and scheduled an appointment the next day.

Anna

Letter #3

Dear Blob,

At my first visit to the clinic I sat for what seemed like an eternity in a cold green room, waiting for my test results. Finally a nurse entered the room and confirmed my fears. I did indeed have a most unfortunate growth. The way the nurse put it, I could have you removed and it would be a quick and simple procedure. She assured me that when it was over I would be able to go on with my life and never look back. Then the subject changed to money. I was informed that the clinic only accepted cash up front. I signed some paperwork and scheduled the appointment. I knew I was in good hands. I had no reason to believe otherwise. After all, this was a legal, safe procedure and I trusted the medical professionals to know what was best for me and for you. On the drive home from the abortion clinic I felt relieved that my nightmare would soon be over. I was tired of the nausea and it was getting harder to hide the truth from my parents. I wanted to tell them, but I knew how disappointed they would be in me. I felt I had to carry through with the plan…it was my only choice.

Anna

Letter #4

Dear Blob,

Christine and I met secretly the morning of the abortion. My parents said good-bye and sent me off to what they thought was school. Instead, I got into Christine’s car and we drove to the clinic together. I felt the same nervousness that one would feel if they were going to the dentist for a root canal. I really did not know what to expect. While driving there our conversation was very light. Christine asked me what my favorite food was. She said that we would celebrate together after my appointment. When we arrived, I walked in and with cash in hand, I went up to the front desk, signed in, and paid the money. I then went and sat down with a handful of nervous teenage girls in the waiting room. Although no one spoke or made eye contact, you could have cut the fear in that little room with a knife. I was anxious to get it over with. I felt relieved when a kind-looking nurse called my name. She ushered me into yet another green-painted room, asked me to get undressed, and handed me one of those hospital gowns. After I did what I was told, the nurse came back into the room and gave me a shot to relax. A few moments later, we walked together into a small cubicle that was one of three or four cubicles. It looked as though the doctor went from cubicle to cubicle removing blobs all day long. When he walked into mine, he turned on a machine that sounded like a vacuum cleaner. He then began the procedure. I couldn’t believe how quickly it went. All in all, it seemed about three minutes. After you were gone, I felt so relieved. The nausea left immediately and after resting awhile in a recovery room, I dressed and went out to Christine’s car.

Anna

Letter #5

Dear Blob,

It is awkward telling you how relieved I felt when you were taken from my body, but I am determined to look back at what happened between us with honesty. If it is any consolation, there was something the nurse said to me when it was all over - that I would be able to move forward and never look back. It would actually be more accurate to say that my thoughts about you have been a strange and constant companion all these years. Even though I thought of you at the time as just a blob of tissue, you have held a considerable amount of weight throughout my life. I am compelled to start at the beginning and explain all that happened with and without you.

Anna

Letter #6

Dear Blob,

Soon after you went away, I started going out with Steve. He was a guy that should have remained a friend! But, I did not like being alone and he was always available. Before I knew it, we were sexually active and inseparable. My mom and dad really liked Steve because he was in college and seemed to be very responsible. We hung out at his house together after school nearly every day until I had to go home at night. One morning after we had been dating for four months, I woke up with that dreaded nausea. I was so scared, Blob! I could not believe that it was happening again, especially since we were using condoms for birth control. Looking back, I would say that this was the beginning of the darkest period of my life and it was not to be a short season.

Anna

Letter #7

Dear Blob,

After it was confirmed that I was pregnant, my boyfriend and I agreed that I must have this blob