I am writing in response to the numerous letters published in this paper against abortion. My purpose is not to change anyone's beliefs, but an attempt to amend the misrepresentation of women who have had abortions and the risks taken.

I am one of these victims of misrepresentation. Less than a week ago, I was eight weeks pregnant. I chose to terminate my pregnancy and because I legally have the right to make that choice, I had a "safe, legal abortion."

I was not "uneducated" on the development of the embryo, not "fetus," inside me. I was taught about the stages of prenatal development in my early childhood development classes. I saw pictures of the developing embryo, including an eight week old embryo in the palm of a hand, in my books. I know what was going on inside my body and I was fully aware of what I was doing when I entered the abortion clinic.

How did I feel? Scared. I will never be as scared as I was waiting for the doctor to begin the procedure.

Before I knew what was happening, I felt an intense cramping pain as the counselor held my hand and instructed me on how to breathe. I became swallowed in sadness, realizing how much I loved the life that was being taken from me. The experience was living hell, but somehow the caring staff made it bearable.

I am experiencing post-abortion blues but I am not "psychologically disturbed or suicidal." Despite my sadness, I know that my abortion was the best for all parties involved and am relieved it is over.

More importantly, I am thankful I was not forced to have an unsafe, illegal abortion in some back street alley. The president of Penn State Students for Life described legal abortion as not-so-safe, listing several "common risks and complications."

The facts are that there is only a 1 percent chance of any "risks or complications" in a first trimester abortion, the time most abortions are performed. Making abortion illegal would greatly increase this percentage.

In the 1950's over a thousand women died each year as a result of illegal abortions. Deaths from widespread abdominal infections because of incompetent abortion techniques were a common occurrence.

It is unrealistic to think making abortions illegal will stop abortions. If a woman wants to terminate her pregnancy she will find a way to do it.

The fifties were host to about a million illegal abortions per year. Coat hangers and paying strangers over a thousand dollars to mutilate a woman's insides were just a couple methods resorted to. I consider these methods unsafe!

I had no complications with my abortion and still it was a very traumatic experience. If I was forced to resort to an illegal abortion, besides all of the physical "risks and complications"' I would be "psychologically disturbed or suicidal."

In my opinion, safe, legal abortions are not something to tamper with.