Client Stories
*(all names have been changed for privacy)
Diane* was living in a domestic violence shelter with her five children after leaving an abusive relationship. Her ex-boyfriend's intensifying abuse caused her to have seizures. When the seizures suddenly worsened she went to the emergency room where she was told she was two months pregnant. Diane had zero income, no belongings to pawn, or friends or family in the area to turn to. Despite incredibly limited resources she was able to raise a portion of the cost herself to pay for an ultrasound at a clinic. After calling the DCAF hotline for help, DCAF's contribution made it possible for her to choose to have an abortion.
When 24-yr-old Karen* went in for her abortion, she had already returned $200 worth of her toddler’s birthday presents and had gotten a cash advance on her paycheck to pay for the procedure. A routine ultrasound at the clinic revealed she was farther along than expected in her pregnancy, and the cost of the procedure was $100 more than anticipated. Karen had already spent the last several weeks chasing the cost of the procedure and didn’t know where else to turn. The clinic told her about DCAF and gave her the hotline number. DCAF was able to quickly turn around a pledge and Karen’s abortion happened as scheduled.
Kate* was 19 when she called DCAF for financial assistance for an abortion. Estranged from her family, Kate was living in a women’s shelter in DC and recovering from an abusive relationship and drug addiction. While Kate was preparing to be transferred to a substance abuse treatment center in another state, she found out she was 9 weeks pregnant. The treatment facility would not accept Kate because she was pregnant, and therefore she would have to stay at the women’s shelter. Without any income, friends or family to rely on, Kate felt that having an abortion was the right choice for her. DCAF worked with a local clinic and pledged money towards Kate’s abortion. Kate is now living at the drug treatment facility, working hard to turn her life around.
Brenda*, a twenty-three year old part-time student in Washington, DC, had not gotten her period for two months. She decided that she could not support a child at that point in her life but her private health insurance would not cover an abortion. She planned to use almost all of her next paycheck to pay for the procedure. The cost unexpectedly went up by $125 when an ultrasound revealed that she was further along in her pregnancy than expected. The clinic referred her to DCAF. With DCAF’s financial assistance, she was able to return two days later for her abortion.
