From the June 5th letters section of the Star Tribune, a woman tells her story:

"ABORTION DOCTOR SLAIN
A personal story may give a little perspective

Regarding the murder of Dr. George Tiller, the antiabortion zealots would like everyone to think late-term abortions are never performed for a good reason. (The woman's life, health and wellbeing and severe fetal defects are not considered good reasons.)

Perhaps a real-life example will help everyone (at least the decent people) understand this issue.

When I was five-and-a-half months pregnant, I started filling up with huge amounts of fluid. The doctor said it indicated a severe fetal abnormality. Since I was a devout Catholic, abortion was not even considered.
I spent the next two and a half months in considerable physical and mental pain. At eight months, the doctor said there was no point in continuing the pregnancy and the suffering I was enduring, so he decided to induce labor. If the fetus was actually OK, the slightly premature birth would do no harm.

A cute red-haired baby girl, looking quite healthy, was born, although weighing only 4 pounds. An examination showed her esophagus was solid instead of hollow and her intestines were just a fibrous mass. She could not eat. It took her a few days to starve to death.

Late-term abortions are performed to prevent such needless tragedies.

MARIE ALENA CASTLE, MINNEAPOLIS"

I titled this "Data Point" in order to divorce it from "emotions" or "feelings" in accordance with the virtue of "civility"*.

*I really miss the glossary....