Donna L. Miller

To the editor:To be fair, I was pleased with parts of the article on June 23. However I am grieved over the misrepresentation of myself and of A Woman's Worth PG Center and of my comments taken out if context. I can see why Tricia Jacobson sighed and hesitated in her interview! When I spoke of the "marketing and profits" of the abortion industry, I was referring to abortion clinics in general, never equating "teen clinics" with the comment. The article was missing much of what we discussed, for example, the care and concern that we have for each one of our clients as we present the truth in love. For without love, what right do we have in even meeting with these precious young people? Instead, the subject of abortion was greatly focused upon and I was painted as an outspoken, critical "pro-lifer," not the actual protective, caring woman that I am known to be. It should be noted that this generation of young people is quite "pro-life," if you will. Many of our other services were not mentioned, like the favorably-received W.A.I.T. training abstinence-based program.We, like the White Mountain Community Health Center Teen Clinic, place great emphasis on "prevention" as well. This is the only program that we receive state funding for, and we have yet to receive any state dollars to date. More accurately, all our support comes from private donors and organizations who believe in our work, and from annual fund raisers. (The volunteers and I work without pay.) Also not mentioned regarding prevention was information on STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), healthier lifestyles through character and relationship development, and personal strength exercises conducted in the classrooms. Two requests I made of the interviewer: please, no stereotypical labels like "pro" and "anti" but rather, write about our desire to see each client as valuable and autonomous and to respect her decisions and beliefs.Secondly, I asked that if any criticism was mentioned about abortion, that it would not be mere hearsay, but only a reflection of the stories that have come from the women themselves; i.e., what they were told or not told, how they were deceived and how they were profoundly wounded either physically or emotionally. Unmentioned is our post-abortion recovery program offered in confidentiality without cost, like all our services. It is one of our more important services and offers the hope and healing that these women are seeking in their lives. I hope you will honor the clients we are to meet by publishing this letter.