17, High School student
Walla Walla, WA
Tana and their boyfriend Shawn live with his parents in Walla Walla. When Tana learns they are pregnant, the timing could not be worse.
Tana’s about to graduate high school and go to Washington State University. Becoming a parent is not on their vision board.
At school, Tana tells their English teacher and school nurse about their situation. Together, they make a plan.
The nurse tells Tana to be careful of Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) which dissuade people from having abortions.
Instead, she helps Tana make an appointment at a trusted abortion clinic. Even though they are under 18, Tana doesn’t need parental consent to receive an abortion.
Anyone, at any age, can receive care and no parental involvement is required in Washington state. Still, Tana is worried about using insurance to pay for the abortion in case Tana’s parents find a bill in the mail.
They want to pay the $1,000 out-of-pocket for a medication abortion so there is no record of it.
The providers tell Tana that for the day or two afterward they might not feel like themselves, so they plan to stay in a nearby hotel post-abortion.
Before their appointment, Tana’s boyfriend gets anxious and asks his parents for the money. Tana has no choice but to accept the help.
