My great aunt was 15 when she got pregnant by the Minister's son. It was a scandal. She had a black market abortion and it ruined her. In her early 20s she wanted to have babies with her husband but couldn't. Access to safe legal abortion would have enabled my great aunt to have 2-3 babies when she was ready

People often confused pro-choice to be pro-abortion. This is a poignant story. Thank you!

...One more time - Abortion is a woman's health 'procedure'. I had an abortion in 1985. I was also left alone in a room for two hours while the Doctors asked for permission to do something they already knew to do. Had I died, two children would have been raised without their mother, my youngest child would not have been born. Four lives were saved that day, not just one.

🙏Appreciate this piece of history and for Mrs. Chessen's personal story, her wisdom and bravery.

How crazy is that Mrs Chessen was fired from her TV show Romper Room for having an abortion. Then gets fired again for giving birth to another baby. Men never have to go through this type of nonsense.

She stood up for her rights. She knew she couldn't keep the baby and bring like that in this world. Birth control is for many things unwanted pregnancies, fibroids, and controlling woman's cycles. A woman showed have say about their body.

Everyone needs to see this. Because of her bravery she saved many lives.

I can’t believe a woman had to go through this. It’s ridiculous.

Thank you for sharing this. I'm 58 and HAD NO IDEA the heroism and struggle of Mrs. Chessen. And still sharing with us all all these years....thank you sooooooooo much!

I learned in history that thalidomide was a standard of practice for a brief period of time. Surprisingly, it is still in use as a tightly restricted treatment for multiple myeloma and Hansen's Disease. It is so important to get a second and third opinion for anything medically related. Better yet, do as much research as you can yourself, especially if you're a woman. It is so important to listen to people like Mrs. Chessen to get a real world point of view. She felt that there was something wrong and this should matter regardless of what side of the aisle someone is on.

Amazing what she went through. What a courageous and determined woman.

Kristin, your mother is MY HERO too. All my best to you and to your mother, Sherri Chessen. Thank you for this public service, and especially a service to all females.

The actions of the supreme court are disgusting and appalling. There needs to be term limits on their ability to destroy peoples lives.

what I think is amazing....her husband stood. beside. her. during that time with her talking to the press. Awesome!!

"If I had to carry a baby around in a basket, I would have never had another child." As someone with a significant physical disability (who was carried until she could use a wheelchair on her own), that cuts deep. I can't judge this woman or any other woman who has made the choice to abort or not, but it's essential in this discussion to (on all sides) be very realistic and plain spoken about why these decisions are being made, as well as the ramifications. It's essential not only to recognize the challenges of parents who have children with medical complications, but it's just as valid to carefully consider how we are referring to these children, as well as the predictions we make for their lives. I find her doctor's characterization of the fetus ghoulish. This was not a monster; this was a human fetus. It's intellectually dishonest to make the fetus out to be "other" in order to justify its termination. It's also ableist and equally disgusting to assume an "abnormal" child will have any less of a valuable or joyful life. If someone chooses to abort, of course emotion plays a huge role, but make that decision based upon as much objective fact as possible, and not dire prediction of their future, the parents' ability to handle the challenges, or mental gymnastics which "other" the fetus and essentially treat them as non-human. No decision (especially one as important as this one) should be made solely out of fear and worst-case scenarios. Not every disabled child goes on to be a Rhodes Scholar with a happy and fulfilled marriage, etc., nor does every severely disabled child go on to have a tragic life. The vast majority are like the vast majority of all of us - somewhere in the middle, with moments of great joy and great pain. That is what life is. Racism and homophobia continue to plague our society, but hopefully it is incredibly obvious how disgusting it would be to suggest aborting a fetus because of their race or sexual orientation, stating that the child would just go through too much. Obviously, there are nuances to this comparison, but even fetuses with mild disability are aborted with such reasoning ("they'll have a hard life;" "people are cruel," etc.). If we're going to have this discussion, let's be honest about how society and prejudice does impact at least part of the debate.

Good to see this story on CBS Sunday Morning

I believe all woman, must have a choice. Amen

There are many stories like this story to know 🙏🏻

"The unborn" are a convenient group of people to advocate for. They never make demands of you; they are morally uncomplicated, unlike orphans, they don't need money, education, or childcare; they allow you to feel good about yourself without any work at creating or maintaining relationships; and when they are born, you can forget about them, because they cease to be unborn. It's almost as if, by being born, they have died to you. You can love the unborn and advocate for them without substantially challenging your own wealth, power, or privilege, without re-imagining social structures, apologizing, or making reparations to anyone. They are, in short, the perfect people to love if you want to claim you love Jesus but actually dislike people who breathe

This is a very important story of a truly remarkable, brave woman.

This is why each person's higher power is their own ultimate counsel...

God bless this brave woman. And thanks for telling her story, CBS News!

I agree abortion is a bad idea for birth control. Yet I remain uncomfortable telling a woman what to do in that situation; trying to adjudicate motives in our legal system would be a nightmare; and the only 'just' solution would be forced sterilization. Abortion should be legal. I'm truly grateful I've never faced that decision.

What wonderful to still be speaking out about her experience and to promote women rights and women health at this stage in her life. Thank you to this courageous and still outspoken women. We need to hear this story again.

As much as these vintage stories are inspiring and brave to hear and learn about, it’s so sad at how they are taken into realities that looks so dark and abysmal, especially by overturning Roe vs. Wade, too.

And ROUNDUP STILL FILLS OUR SHELVES?

Wow, I did not know this story. Thank you for telling this point of view. 🙏🏽💯

Why won't you interview any of the women from the Silent No More Awareness Campaign, huh CBS?

It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish. -Saint Mother Theresa

I was on newly married and on accutane I was told by my dermatologist that I had to go on birth control because of major defects, I went to several gynecologists and many didn't want to put me on birth control because I was married, I finally got on one and the side effect of accutane was I got major depression so I had to find a doctor to put me on antidepressants. I got pregnant not knowing the antidepressants I was on made my birth control inactive. I was on holiday in Greece and passed out and woke up in the hospital and was told that bloodtests told me I was pregnant. They did a scan and in broken English said "it's a tomato, there's no arms, legs or head, everything is organs in a little tomato." They asked if I wanted to miscarriage now or later, but later would mean birthing. Never once did I feel I was killing a baby, and not once was the word abortion used, but if I was to carry that to term in the US it would have been a full blown horror story and I don't think mentally I would have recovered. Now I have a beautiful daughter. I would have committed suicide if I had to carry that tomato.

This woman grew up during a time when having a child with disabilities was looked down on in society. Children with disabilities were often put into institutions. Thank God, we have improved somewhat in our thinking since then, but there are still people out there who look upon a child with disabilities as a burden and not a blessing. That's a shame, because ALL children are a blessing, disabled or not.

Oh my goodness. I didn't know this story. But I am so grateful she didn't carry the fetus to term. It would have been a horrible life. We have more mercy for horses and dogs. Why can't we provide more mercy to babies? I would hate my parents if they brought me into this world knowing I would suffer like that.

I was born in 1970 and have read a lot about the horrible things that women went through when abortion was illegal. I never dreamed that in the year 2022 Roe would be overturned and I'd be looking at abortion being illegal in half the states. So many people through the years said that this would never happen. I still am kind of in a state of shock that this is actually happening. I keep thinking this is a nightmare that I'll wake up from. I think that many people have complex and even conflicting views about the morality of abortion, but I also don't think that most people actually want it to be illegal because circumstances vary greatly and women will die or be maimed if they have to resort to illegal procedures. I was raised Catholic by Republican parents who were against abortion, but for some reason I have always been pro-choice. I don't take the subject of abortion lightly, but I do believe that having the option of legal abortion is necessary for the freedom of women.

I went to HS with a guy that was a thalidomide baby, and mentally he was normal. He just walked with a limp and didn't have fully developed hands. His arms were also short, but he adapted and was able to drive. He even rode horses. What people don't know is big pharma and the FDA approved thalidomide for use once again in 1998 for treatment of leprosy and myeloma, with warnings for pregnant women not to take it .

90 is the new 70.

Okay define "normal child" 2:49

God-- what A strong and wonderful woman, I am telling you women are going to come out by the thousands to vote for the mid terms in Nov. 2022 and the Dems will have the majority in the house and senate, there is no question!

CBS, until this horrible injustice is overturned, my hope is that you'll continue to share abortion stories every Sunday

Slippery slope. When it comes to disabilities.

So proud of your lifetime dedicated to abortion and abortion rights, Sherri! I am a practicing Catholic and am pro life for myself and pro choice for every other woman because I firmly believe in the separation of Church and State. And I certainly would never listen to the judgement of a celibate man. Ridiculous. People who judge don’t matter and people who matter don’t judge. Early congratulations on your upcoming 90th birthday! Have a wonderful celebration! PS Just to acknowledge: Never once have men been told or legally required to use contraception to prevent fertilization. Never! Astoundingly true and speaks volumes as to how distorted this subject matter truly is.

Thalidomide...anyone else see how big pharma played a part back int the day?? MUCH RESPECT for you!! And THANK YOU!!!

sorry, but she still killed her baby. no way around that fact.

Yes ingest a chemical in which you don't know what the side effects are that's a smart decision

Thank you for sharing your brave story Ms. Chessen.

Murdering children is now being lauded as bravery. And then saying killing the one child saved the other child's life. Absolutely abhorrent

There are oodles of stories like this. I don't think any one case brought to us Roe. I was 24 in 1965 when I had my illegal abortion. I was very fortunate in that I was perfectly ok. I couldn't get a legal abortion. I was on Romper room out of Oakland Ca with my music partner, Robin Goodfellow. Probably early in 1980's. We all know that men have never been held accountable for their actions and as it stands now, women will bear the entire burden, no matter how it goes.

This is very disturbing.

I know a young man who was born without limbs of any kind. He is now a very busy public speaker and is happy he was given a chance to live his life.

Welcome back to 1962, America.

Great report! Thank you!

I am anti-abortion AND pro-choice. I had the right to choose not to have an abortion and I support EVERY woman's right to choose for themselves. It's not anger. It's Rage! There is not one person on this planet that can tell my daughter what she can or can not do with her own body. I don't care what the Catholics on the court say. I was born June of '62. It's been exactly 60 years. (just had a birthday)

What an amazing woman! The pride of her daughter, calling her her hero, brought tears to my eyes. Thank you. It must be a woman’s choice to determine her reproductive destiny.

We have a lot of choices in life, but we don’t get to choose the death of another human being. That poor baby was a victim many times over.

This is nothing more than a return to medieval religious witch hunting without the witches.Once again religion shows its ugliness.We shall overcome this foolishness.

Just wow.

These anti-abortion zealots don’t seem to care how it will affect the lives of women; and the responsibility of men never seems to come up either. It’s all about punishing women. You bet I’m angry.

Kristen Atwell Ford: Your mom is my hero too!!

You're havin' my baby What a lovely way of sayin' how much you love me Havin' my baby What a lovely way of sayin' what you're thinkin' of me I can see it, your face is glowin' I can see it in your eyes, I'm happy you know it

What a fine piece and reminder you have created. I produced that earlier interview with Sherri that you have featured here. However, that interview was conducted in 1990, not 1998.

We're so smart. We can determine a person's worth before they are even born. It's all our fault that we don't only impregnate our women with only the specimens that we determine to be worthy, determined, of course, before they are delivered.....you know, by the stork.

Another irony is the Republicans wouldn’t have supported Govt. Programs for those babies and children with that birth defect caused by that drug.At least in England the NHS gives support to them.

Brave, then and now; nice to hear a first person story presented on an even keel. Thank you.

Well stated!

Nothing to brag

STOP HIDING PEOPLE'S COMMENTS YT!

How did I not know about this story?!? She set the stage for women rights! So we'll spoken

My daughter was so upset when she went off the air. I forgot about the drugs she had been given. I had taken something when sick with my second., In 1969, .took one..then read the papers that the doctor was supposed to have removed from the sample box..I threw those pills the entire length of my apartment and worried the rest if the 9 months.

Movie: Eclipse of Reason.

I am very grateful this story was posted on KZfaq. Thank you! It made me realize something. The background is this.... I was born in 1966. I believe a fellow student was a Thalidomide baby. Each of his hands had two big fingers only, and, as I understood his situation, he had prosthetic legs. As I see President Kennedy, I am realizing that his mother acquired the pharmaceutical after it was illegalized in this country. It could be that something else caused the defects. It could be that he was held back 3-4 grades, depending on which month he was born in. If that does not explain it, what does?

Thank you for shedding light on this difficult topic. When you understand the breadth of the situation you see that her decision was very difficult and an act of love.

Movie: The Silent Scream.

This should be played over and over again.

Makes me mad that the people who claim to "choose freedom" are anti-choice 🙄 I better see all those people start adopting and fostering kids.

So sad that good people die young.

Abortion should not be used as birth control. But the sad fact is that there are women out there using it as birth control.

She'd already had 4 children and brought 2 more into the world after. I happen to know one of them is a fantastic person. So why do we care if she didn't want to have a 7th that would've been born with half the life of her other children? Doesn't make sense to me.

I was suppose to be aborted, but my dad saved my life. Even though he was only 19 and my mom was 17 they married. And I went to school with a little girl who had those birth defects and she was as worthy of life as I was. Someone saved her life too.

Did the commentator say she is 90 years old? Wow!

The Constitution isn’t part of the Bible

I dont think abortion should be readily available. People need to be more responsible (in most cases) and not get abortions for convenience. But I dont think it should be illegal. It should be rare.

I'm a USA Thalidomide survivor

Father forgive them, for they know not what they do! No child is a “ bad seed”. How sad!

Movie: Unplanned. Story of Abby Johnson: Former Planned Parenthood employee.

Let's be honest here. The vast majority of abortions performed are not of pregnancies like Sherri Chessen's. Before and after Roe, the vast majority of abortions performed were on healthy pregnancies and done out of a sense of convenience to the mother. When I came of age in the post Roe 1980s, abortion was more often than not considered a form of birth control. I've personally known women who'd had as many as five abortions by the time they'd reached their early thirties. Dangerous and problematic pregnancies like Chessen's are a tragedy, but let's not kid ourselves that they are the norm.

She’s a hero. That’s a woman with reason, not a feminist roach.

Deep down in her heart this woman knows what she did was wrong. I will pray for you Sherri. It's not too late for you to repent. I pray that you will get your heart right with God, before you pass away.

It was a baby.

Important story

1:38 That Hat !!!

She looks fantastic.

I still go back to the question the VP asked during her years as a Senator, "What laws are there governing a man's body?" And yet, these people will complain about one unborn life than to worry about taking out 2 lives. What if she wasn't able to give birth to the child w/o her life hanging in the balance? My other problem is the Vatican, passing judgment on her and husband. They're supposed to be a vessel for God not He themselves, therefore, they shouldn't have anything to say, and leave that with her and God.

Thanks Sunday Morning, this is an important story in the history of abortion that I didn't know and I'm sure many others don't either. SCOTUS conservative majority have turned the court into a heartless theocracy. If this isn't a good argument to be pro-choice... nothing is! 🇺🇸

Proud of you Miss Sherri and honored to know such a brave Woman who set the trail on fire for women's and human rights, common sense and doing the right thing. Thank you for speaking your and millions of other women's truth. Personal choice over one's own body and the sanctity and safety of it, is not up for legislation, period.

Pro-Life IS Pro-Woman.

This is a super important story + I bet it changed a lot of minds in a time of too much backwards thinking. Bravo Sherri Chessen! Hope this story gets a lot of traction + goes viral E X P A N D T H E C O U R T 👏 Down with theocracy

Right out of Mao Tse-Tung LITTLE RED BOOK

Due to Texas's strict anti-abortion laws making abortion due to a fetus's severe birth defects illegal, that issue will come up again.

this story , of course is a nightmare - but here's the thing , in the 1950's a boy , a thalidomide baby , was born without arms , he had a life , and still does have a life , with a large cross attached to it - would he have given that life up ? would he give that life up now !? there are no easy answers here , but he values his life !

"to save her own baby from suffering" is a very powerful statement that more people need to hear. What's the point of 'saving' a life if that life will have little to no future? A future of pain and resentment, mistreatment, cruelty?

Justice for my dear daugther,Genesis Miranda DEL Toro,victim of fmln and organize crime,they committed this and many more crimes with her!!!