Sharing such a personal and painful story is a gift to all who read your substack. And the picture of you with your beautiful daughter brought tears to my eyes. Thank you.❤️
Boy, oh boy. Most men wouldn't even begin to know how to express what you have in your piece today. I am delighted that you and your wife were eventually successful and are parents to a beautiful child. I know first hand the anguish many women go through in making a decision to discontinue a pregnancy, and the multitude of personal reasons for doing so. (I am a nurse at an abortion clinic) Not to mention the hazards involved when, by no fault of their own, a pregnancy goes awry.
Thank you for sharing your story, and I hope that men, and women, realize what they are doing when they vote in 2024. Our rights are truly on the line.
28 years ago I went from being a Military Intelligence officer in the Army to being a woman’s health nurse. I have worked in labor and delivery and GYN surgery almost that entire time. Women and families are making these sometimes painful and sometimes joyful decisions every single day. The pain, suffering, possibility of hemorrhage and infection that goes with a loss of pregnancy does not belong to far-right male politicians. It is disgusting that they want to have control over something so intimate and personal in so many families’ lives. Thank you for sharing this and may you, Rachel and your family have a blessed holiday season.
I am a veteran and I think of Afghanistan often although I do not blame this administration for what happened to Afghanistan I do place a lot of blame on the previous administration for leaving only like less than about 3000 troops there when they left I know that you seem to place blame on Biden maybe that's mistaken but I get that feeling and I wanted to say that it seems to me that I just want to know your opinion of what should he have done because logistically it would have been a nightmare trying to turn that whole bus around after everything was already gone I personally believe that we should have left a base if not 2 or 3 bases in Afghanistan like we do in every other country that we've been in. But with just some scattered troops and the president of Afghanistan itself leaving with the money and a lot of troops laying down weapons. Honestly what should they have done.
Thank you for your willingness to share your heartbreaking story. You are so right...the republican party is determined to strip away all our rights in spite of their lies to the alternative.
I believe republicans think abortion is used as birth control...it most definitely is not. As a physician I have TRIED to comfort women and couples who have lost a pregnancy or who feel they have little choice than to abort their fetus for NUMEROUS reasons. Some reasons are life threatening as you point out so well. But every reason, in my experience, was reached after desperate deliberation, sometimes with prayer, almost always with tearful, heartfelt regret. Yes some women get pregnant because they did not take adequate precautions...but they are far and few between. That doesn't lessen the trauma they and their partner go through in making that decision. Nor does that give the government the right to force them to go through with a pregnancy that will change their life forever. Not to mention put their life at risk. Which raises the question of why any gov't. in a country that is so tragically poor in preventing maternal death and morbidity should force maternity on any woman who does not desire it?
I get very excited every time your email comes into my computer. I brew a cup of coffee and sit back to hear you tell about the world. I trust you. You tell the truth even when you have to pay a price. I admire your values.
I can't believe you posted this. So personal. Putting all your stuff out there to slap the idiots in the face with their hypocrisy and cruelty. I feel so bad for what is happening as women's rights and civil rights are being pounced on but yet I was at a party and someone proposed a toast that "we all watch fox" I humbly held my hand up and said "not me" . The room got silent but the bright side was that no one smacked me and we didn't even bring up politics after that. Maybe we should have. I stand with you and your family.
Thank you so much for sharing this very personal experience. I know many other families have had similar things happen in their lives. As I see it, these legislators, governors and other officials are practicing medicine without licenses. They completely lack the knowledge base to make such decisions, and do not even have the human compassion to attempt to comprehend what families are going through. I agree. It’s a matter of control, power aimed mostly against women who are in dire circumstances.
Thank you for sharing your story. It is beyond cruel for these know-it-alls to be writing laws for situations that are none of their business. Years ago there was a bumper sticker that read: if you don’t believe in abortion, don’t have one.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. Tragic as it is but you finally have an adorable daughter. The thought that people (especially men) feel they have the right to make decisions for women that are in painful situations is beyond words. And the comment from Paxton that no matter how long a child lives makes no difference. It’s birthed. No regard for the parents carry a fetus to term when you know it will not live. Oh and what about the baby do they think the death is not in a way frightening for them ? Sorry this makes me so mad hard to get my words right.
Thank you for being man enough to stand up and for what is right! You and Rachel are believers in what is right. Please know your posts are very important and thanks for sharing your personal story. My hopes are this blue wave will right this lopsided country 🙏🙏🙏 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Thank you - I cried as well. I fear that we will see many more women experiencing life and fertility threatening complications. These people are taking us back to the dark ages to score political points.
Thank you for sharing your story and to speaking to other men. Ken Paxton and Republicans like him
are upending the sanctity of our American family life. These Republican lawyers do not possess medical degrees. They are not doctors much less specialist’s in high risk pregnancies. Yet they believe they have a say over other men’s women and families and the American men are supposed to stand by impotently why these outsiders destroy their family.
Sharing such a personal and painful story is a gift to all who read your substack. And the picture of you with your beautiful daughter brought tears to my eyes. Thank you.❤️
Boy, oh boy. Most men wouldn't even begin to know how to express what you have in your piece today. I am delighted that you and your wife were eventually successful and are parents to a beautiful child. I know first hand the anguish many women go through in making a decision to discontinue a pregnancy, and the multitude of personal reasons for doing so. (I am a nurse at an abortion clinic) Not to mention the hazards involved when, by no fault of their own, a pregnancy goes awry.
Thank you for sharing your story, and I hope that men, and women, realize what they are doing when they vote in 2024. Our rights are truly on the line.
28 years ago I went from being a Military Intelligence officer in the Army to being a woman’s health nurse. I have worked in labor and delivery and GYN surgery almost that entire time. Women and families are making these sometimes painful and sometimes joyful decisions every single day. The pain, suffering, possibility of hemorrhage and infection that goes with a loss of pregnancy does not belong to far-right male politicians. It is disgusting that they want to have control over something so intimate and personal in so many families’ lives. Thank you for sharing this and may you, Rachel and your family have a blessed holiday season.
It's not just the men. Women are in there too trying to take us back to a bad time. I don't get it at all, especially with women.
I am a veteran and I think of Afghanistan often although I do not blame this administration for what happened to Afghanistan I do place a lot of blame on the previous administration for leaving only like less than about 3000 troops there when they left I know that you seem to place blame on Biden maybe that's mistaken but I get that feeling and I wanted to say that it seems to me that I just want to know your opinion of what should he have done because logistically it would have been a nightmare trying to turn that whole bus around after everything was already gone I personally believe that we should have left a base if not 2 or 3 bases in Afghanistan like we do in every other country that we've been in. But with just some scattered troops and the president of Afghanistan itself leaving with the money and a lot of troops laying down weapons. Honestly what should they have done.
Thank you very much for sharing your story. So important and we appreciate it.
Thank you. One of the best articles I’ve read on the issue. It prompted be to become a paid subscriber.
Thank you for sharing, Col. Vindman. May people of good will prevail.
Thank you for your willingness to share your heartbreaking story. You are so right...the republican party is determined to strip away all our rights in spite of their lies to the alternative.
I believe republicans think abortion is used as birth control...it most definitely is not. As a physician I have TRIED to comfort women and couples who have lost a pregnancy or who feel they have little choice than to abort their fetus for NUMEROUS reasons. Some reasons are life threatening as you point out so well. But every reason, in my experience, was reached after desperate deliberation, sometimes with prayer, almost always with tearful, heartfelt regret. Yes some women get pregnant because they did not take adequate precautions...but they are far and few between. That doesn't lessen the trauma they and their partner go through in making that decision. Nor does that give the government the right to force them to go through with a pregnancy that will change their life forever. Not to mention put their life at risk. Which raises the question of why any gov't. in a country that is so tragically poor in preventing maternal death and morbidity should force maternity on any woman who does not desire it?
I get very excited every time your email comes into my computer. I brew a cup of coffee and sit back to hear you tell about the world. I trust you. You tell the truth even when you have to pay a price. I admire your values.
Keep writing and I'll keep reading.
Thanks
I can't believe you posted this. So personal. Putting all your stuff out there to slap the idiots in the face with their hypocrisy and cruelty. I feel so bad for what is happening as women's rights and civil rights are being pounced on but yet I was at a party and someone proposed a toast that "we all watch fox" I humbly held my hand up and said "not me" . The room got silent but the bright side was that no one smacked me and we didn't even bring up politics after that. Maybe we should have. I stand with you and your family.
Thank you so much for sharing this very personal experience. I know many other families have had similar things happen in their lives. As I see it, these legislators, governors and other officials are practicing medicine without licenses. They completely lack the knowledge base to make such decisions, and do not even have the human compassion to attempt to comprehend what families are going through. I agree. It’s a matter of control, power aimed mostly against women who are in dire circumstances.
Thank you for sharing your story. It is beyond cruel for these know-it-alls to be writing laws for situations that are none of their business. Years ago there was a bumper sticker that read: if you don’t believe in abortion, don’t have one.
There still is.
Good to know. I haven’t seen one in years.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. Tragic as it is but you finally have an adorable daughter. The thought that people (especially men) feel they have the right to make decisions for women that are in painful situations is beyond words. And the comment from Paxton that no matter how long a child lives makes no difference. It’s birthed. No regard for the parents carry a fetus to term when you know it will not live. Oh and what about the baby do they think the death is not in a way frightening for them ? Sorry this makes me so mad hard to get my words right.
Thank you so much for sharing this difficult, touching, and loving part of your story with us.
Thank you for being man enough to stand up and for what is right! You and Rachel are believers in what is right. Please know your posts are very important and thanks for sharing your personal story. My hopes are this blue wave will right this lopsided country 🙏🙏🙏 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Thank you - I cried as well. I fear that we will see many more women experiencing life and fertility threatening complications. These people are taking us back to the dark ages to score political points.
Thank you for sharing your story and to speaking to other men. Ken Paxton and Republicans like him
are upending the sanctity of our American family life. These Republican lawyers do not possess medical degrees. They are not doctors much less specialist’s in high risk pregnancies. Yet they believe they have a say over other men’s women and families and the American men are supposed to stand by impotently why these outsiders destroy their family.