FROM PAGE C1 Owens was 16-years-old and married when she went in for her first abortion. ‘‘My husband decided we couldn’t afford it and 1 wanted to pro- ve I could hold my marriage together,’’ Owens explained to a silent audience. ‘“The doctor didn’t tell me about the fetal development.”’ Madden said when she went in for her abortion at 15-years-old, lost and frightened, and afraid to turn to her family, the doctor told her that her six and a half week old baby was ‘‘just a microscopic cluster of 10 or 15 cells.’’ But seeing the picture of a six and a half week fetus ina biology book later, Madden says, ‘‘1 was devastated when 1 saw this picture. lt was not a little blob, but a baby.”’ After the abortion, Owens said she woke crying and felt **a tremendous loss, an emo- tional burden,’’ and ex- perienced medical complica- tions such as hemorrhaging. o 1401 Hornby St. pictured abo ABORTION REGRETTED Three years later, Owens had her second abortion, after she was raped at qa hotel where she worked. ‘*The doctor said the only choice was abortion. I remembered the emotional trauma from the last one, but thought this different because of the rape. The doc- tor said it would be ‘safe, easy and painless.’ ”’ lt wasn’t until after ‘‘i signed a form releasing the doctor and hospital from complications,’’ that the nurse explained there was a chance of risk, Owens said. “*] experienced horrendous pain, complications, hemor- rhaging and cramping.”’ Three months later, after continued hemorrhaging, Owens went to another doc- tor and was told there was mass infection and damage to her uterus. Owens later had two daughters with difficult deliveries, and had placenta problems. It wasn’t unul she went to nursing school that Owens *‘realized at cight weeks the Custom Design Rattan Ltd. 669-2145 \Y/oods Rattan , , one of our many new styles Just arrived fetus has fingers, toes, a heartbeat and brainwaves. I realized I'd been lied to for monetary reasons. 1 made a tremendous mistake.”’ After Madden had her abortion, she said the guilt was unbearable. She began to have nightmares, took large amounts of tranquilizers and started to drink. ““I felt the blood would never come off my hands, so at 15, I attempted suicide.”’ Six years later, after a series of infections, Madden miscarried her only other pregnancy and was told there was ‘‘permanent damage to the cervix and fallopian tubes.”’ Now, in ané_ effort to enlighten others, the two women are telling about their experiences. The group Women Exploited By Abor- tion was formed for women who have had abortions, regret it and need support, or for women who are pregnant and have not yet decided what to do. Owens explained that the - group offers hope, support ee EE and encouragement, a shoulder for grievances, sor- row and guilt and education on the facts. Though the group is based on Christiani- ty, Owens said that all women are welcome. “*Society doesn’t allow women to grieve the aborted child,’’ Madden says. Although the women’s ex- periences happened in the U.S., where abortion laws differ from Canada, the group hopes to open a Van- couver chapter soon. | Dove a OWENS AND MADDEN addressed a classroom of silent listeners, who were absorbed by the emotional stories the women told. ATTENTION: GREAT CHEFS OF THE NORTH SHORE! Dear Customer: We are very picased to tell you about some exciting new arrivals we have added to our kitchen area. Brand new is a complete line of professional quality Degion Sabatier knives with their French look and rosewood handles. Atso meion baliers, zesters, pastry wheels and butter curlers for you or gift-boxed for Just in are professional kitchen helpers, marble rolling pins, heavy-duty cooling racks, jelly-roll pans, brioche tins and tortilla presses. We have the ingredients for a whole new recipe in entertaining! Sincerely, Monica Hoffmann Marcia Hetherington Frances MacLean Doreen Ruud Maxmilfian 1718 Marine.Drive (Little Wall St.) West Vancouver open 10:00-5:30 MON. to SAT.* 922-3713 . Get the decorator touch. Take advantage of our design services when planning changes in your decor. Choose from one of the largest selections of samples on the North Shore. Window treatments Wallcoverings Upholstery fabrics Accessories A professional touch ts all that’s needed to make your home really special. 3044 Edgemont Blvd., North Vancouver 985-0022 Tues. - Sat. 9:30-5:30 985-0184