Many years ago, a coworker announced that she was pregnant with her 2nd child but that she and her husband (both immigrants from Haiti) could not afford another child at that time. I overheard her make an appointment with an abortionist and prayed with all my heart for some guidance. The day before her scheduled abortion, I invited her to lunch. I kept the conversation light, eventually leading up to the question of how she felt about her scheduled appointment.
She admitted that she was nervous but committed due to their financial situation. Using this excuse as an opportunity, I spoke with her about how "poor" my life was without a child and how my husband and I wanted very much to have children. I went on to speak of the future when their financial status might improve and how she would feel then, knowing that she had terminated the life of another human being. She reflected on this and we returned to work.
When she showed up at work the next day, my heart raced with anticipation that she might have changed her mind. She told me that she had postponed the appointment. Eventually, she postponed all of her appointments and delivered a beautiful and healthy baby girl. Three months later, she and her husband stopped by the office with their older son. The husband cradled the daughter in his arms. She winked at me and told me how the daughter was the "apple" of daddy's eye. Their lives turned around rather quickly after that. Their financial status improved and they moved away.
While that story stands out as a success, there were two other failures. In both of those situations, my husband and I offered to adopt the unwanted children, to no avail. One of these women went so far as to schedule her abortion on Good Friday.
I pray for all the women who have had abortions. From what I have read, they never recover psychologically from this. Many become angry when they fully comprehend what they have done. Sometimes the most expedient solution in a given moment requires more reflection and prayer.